Former New Zealand pacer Tim Southee missed out on Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli and Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam when asked to predict the highest run-scorer for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Instead, the veteran fast bowler picked New Zealand’s Kane Williamson and Australia’s Travis Head as his top contenders for the prestigious tournament.
The 10th edition of the ICC Champions Trophy will commence on February 19 in Karachi, as the defending champions, Pakistan, host New Zealand in the opener. Eight teams will compete in this tournament, contesting at three venues in Pakistan and one venue in Dubai. The final of the event has been scheduled for March 9.
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Kohli was the top run-getter in the ODI World Cup 2023, where he scored 765 runs in 11 games for India. But Southee feels Williamson and Head are better placed to become the run-getters of the Champions Trophy, considering their past performances in such high-pressure tournaments and adaptability.
Video shared by ICC on Instagram with Tim Southee explaining his choice:
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“I think the wickets in Pakistan will be pretty good. I’d like to say Kane Williamson will be up there. His ability to adapt to different conditions, his experience, and his phenomenal ODI record make him a strong candidate. If New Zealand are to go deep into the tournament, he’ll have to score a lot of runs.”
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He also supported Australia’s Travis Head, pointing out his explosive batting style: “Maybe Travis Head as well. He’s a dangerous player, and he was a standout in the last ODI World Cup. I think he’ll enjoy the wickets in Pakistan, and Australia historically perform well in world events, so I expect them to be strong contenders.”
Head, who scored a match-winning century in the World Cup 2023 final against India, is likely to open the innings for Pat Cummins’ side in the Champions Trophy, making him a crucial player for Australia.
