Sports in News — Cricket
1. ICC Champions Trophy 2025
CONTEXT
- India clinched their third ICC Champions Trophy title in 2025, defeating New Zealand in the final at Dubai.
ABOUT ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY
- A One Day International (ODI) cricket tournament, featuring the top eight teams in the world.
- Originally introduced as the ICC Knockout in 1998 (Dhaka, Bangladesh), renamed the ICC Champions Trophy in 2002.
- Initially held every two years until 2009, later adopted a four-year cycle.
- Most Successful Team: India (2002, 2013, 2025) — 3 titles.
- Australia (2006, 2009) — 2 titles; South Africa (1998), New Zealand (2000), Sri Lanka (2002), West Indies (2004), Pakistan (2017) — 1 title each.
ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY 2025 — KEY FACTS
- Hosted by: Pakistan (India's Matches held in Dubai)
- Final: India vs New Zealand
- Player of the Tournament: Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand)
TOURNAMENT FORMAT
- Since 2006, the competition has followed a two-group format with eight teams, divided into two groups of four.
- Each team plays against every other team in its group.
- The top two teams from each group qualify for the semi-finals, leading to the final.
NEW QUALIFICATION CRITERIA FOR 2025
- Earlier, the top eight ranked ODI teams automatically qualified.
- For 2025, qualification was based on the standings from the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup.
- The top-eight teams from the 2023 World Cup points table, including hosts Pakistan, secured their place.
TEAMS IN ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY 2025
- Group A: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, New Zealand
- Group B: Australia, Afghanistan, England, South Africa
2. ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024
CONTEXT
- India secured the ICC trophy with a historic triumph at the 2024 T20 World Cup, hosted by the USA and West Indies.
ABOUT ICC MEN'S T20 WORLD CUP
- A biennial international T20 cricket tournament organized by the ICC.
- Started in 2007 and rebranded in 2018.
- The tournament was initially held in odd years (2007-2009), then shifted to even years from 2010 onward, except for 2018 and 2020.
- The 2020 edition was postponed due to COVID-19 and later held in 2021.
WINNERS HISTORY
- As of 2024, nine editions have been played, with six teams winning the title.
- India (2007, 2024), West Indies (2012, 2016), and England (2010, 2022) have won twice.
- Pakistan (2009), Sri Lanka (2014), and Australia (2021) have one title each.
- India is the current champion; the next edition will be hosted by India and Sri Lanka in 2026.
- It was the first major ICC tournament to include matches played in the United States.
TOURNAMENT FORMAT
- First Round: 20 teams in 4 groups of 5. Each team plays 4 matches.
- Top 2 teams from each group advance to Super 8s.
- Super 8s: 8 teams split into 2 groups. Each team plays 3 matches.
- Top 2 teams from each Super 8s group enter the semi-finals.
- Winners of the semis play the final on June 29 in Barbados.
3. ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024
ABOUT ICC WOMEN'S T20 WORLD CUP
- A biennial ICC event that began in 2009.
- Initially featuring 8 teams, it expanded to 10 in 2014 and will have 12 teams in 2026.
- As of 2024, Australia is the most successful team with 6 titles.
- England, West Indies, and New Zealand have won once each.
- In 2020, India was runner-up and lost to Australia.
- The 2024 edition was hosted in the UAE, with New Zealand winning their first title.
- Australia defeated India to secure a semi-final spot in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024.
- India failed to reach the semi-finals after New Zealand's 54-run win over Pakistan.
4. ICC World Test Championship 2025
- The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) is the premier championship for Test cricket, organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
- Objective: To bring context to bilateral Test series, ensuring that each match contributes to a larger competition, enhancing the significance and competitiveness of Test cricket globally.
INCEPTION AND STRUCTURE
- Launch: The inaugural WTC began on 1 August 2019, featuring the top nine Test-playing nations.
- Format: Each participating team plays six series over a two-year cycle — three at home and three away. Each series consists of two to five Test matches.
- Final Match: At the end of the league stage, the top two teams based on PCT (Points Percentage) qualify for the WTC Final. [UPSC 2021]
POINTS SYSTEM
- 2019–2021: Each series had 120 points, distributed based on the number of matches.
- 2021–2023: Fixed system — 12 points for a win, 6 for a tie, 4 for a draw, and 0 for a loss.
- Rankings are based on the percentage of points won.
CURRENT CYCLE (2023–2025)
- The ongoing third edition commenced in June 2023 with the Ashes series between England and Australia.
- Scheduled to conclude in June 2025 with the final at Lord's.
- The finals will be played between South Africa and defending Champion Australia.
- The points system remains consistent with the previous cycle, emphasizing the percentage of points won for rankings.
5. Summary: Cricket Events at a Glance
| Event | Year | Host | Winner | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICC Champions Trophy | 2025 | Pakistan (India's matches in Dubai) | India | India's 3rd title; Player of Tournament: Rachin Ravindra (NZ) |
| ICC Men's T20 World Cup | 2024 | USA & West Indies | India | India's 2nd T20 title; 20 teams; Super 8 format |
| ICC Women's T20 World Cup | 2024 | UAE | New Zealand | NZ's first title; Australia most successful (6 titles) |
| ICC World Test Championship | 2023-2025 | Lord's (Final) | South Africa vs Australia (Final) | PCT based; 12 pts win, 4 pts draw, 0 loss |
Key Takeaways for UPSC
- ICC Champions Trophy 2025: India's 3rd title; hosted by Pakistan (India's matches in Dubai)
- ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024: India's 2nd title; hosted by USA & West Indies
- ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024: NZ's 1st title; hosted by UAE
- WTC 2023-25: South Africa vs Australia at Lord's; PCT-based rankings
- Qualification (Champions Trophy 2025): Based on 2023 World Cup standings
- T20 World Cup Format: 20 teams → Super 8s → Semis → Final
High-Yield Interactive UPSC Quiz (Sports — Cricket)
Q1. India won the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 by defeating which team?
Correct Answer: B. India defeated New Zealand in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at Dubai.
Q2. The ICC Champions Trophy was originally introduced in 1998 as:
Correct Answer: C. The ICC Champions Trophy was originally introduced as the ICC Knockout in 1998 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Q3. Which team has won the ICC Champions Trophy the most number of times?
Correct Answer: B. India is the most successful team in the ICC Champions Trophy with three titles (2002, 2013, 2025).
Q4. The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 was hosted by:
Correct Answer: D. The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 was hosted by the USA and West Indies.
Q5. The next ICC Men's T20 World Cup (2026) will be hosted by:
Correct Answer: B. The next ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2026 will be hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Q6. Which team has won the most ICC Women's T20 World Cup titles?
Correct Answer: B. Australia is the most successful team in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup with 6 titles.
Q7. The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) began in:
Correct Answer: C. The inaugural ICC World Test Championship began on 1 August 2019, featuring the top nine Test-playing nations.
Q8. In the WTC 2021-2023 cycle, how many points are awarded for a win?
Correct Answer: B. In the WTC 2021-2023 cycle, the ICC introduced a fixed system: 12 points for a win, 6 for a tie, 4 for a draw, and 0 for a loss.
Q9. The WTC 2023-2025 final will be played between:
Correct Answer: C. The WTC 2023-2025 final will be played between South Africa and defending Champion Australia at Lord's.
Q10. Who was the Player of the Tournament in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025?
Correct Answer: C. Rachin Ravindra of New Zealand was the Player of the Tournament in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.