New Zealand in ICC Champions Trophy: Kane Williamson Mitchell Santner to turn dark horses as favourites, pace unit injury-hit

The New Zealand team enters the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as a formidable contender under the leadership of Mitchell Santner. The Black Caps, past winners of the tournament in 2000, will be eager to add another white-ball title to their collection, especially punching above their eight in all the major ICC events for some time now. Their campaign kicks off against hosts Pakistan, a crucial fixture that could set the tone for their tournament. Placed in a challenging group alongside Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, New Zealand must bring their A-game to advance to the knockout rounds.

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Strengths: Solid batting unit & spin depth

Explosive Batting Order ft. Williamson, Daryl Mitchell

The most striking transformation for New Zealand under Santner has been their aggressive batting approach. The team has been scoring at a rate of 6.18 runs per over in 2025, their fastest in ODI history. Kane Williamson remains the anchor in the middle order, supported by power-hitters Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell. Phillips showed his value as a power hitter with a blistering 106 off 74 balls against Pakistan in the recent Tri-Nation series, while Bracewell is a safe batter as well.

At the top, New Zealand faces a selection dilemma between Devon Conway and Will Young as Rachin Ravindra’s opening partner. Conway, who amassed 372 runs in the 2023 ODI World Cup, is returning from an injury layoff, while Young has shown promise in recent outings. Tom Latham and Daryl Mitchell add stability to the middle order, with Mark Chapman potentially slotting in to provide an attacking option. The big onus, meanwhile, will definitely be on Kane Williamson’s shoulders, who is a tailor-made batter for Asian conditions.

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Strong spin options & all-rounders

In conditions that may favour spin, New Zealand possesses a versatile attack. Santner, the captain, is a world-class left-arm spinner with experience in subcontinental conditions. Michael Bracewell provides a second frontline spin option, while part-time spinners Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra add further depth. This variety allows New Zealand to tailor their bowling attack based on conditions, especially in spin-friendly venues like Karachi and Dubai.

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Weaknesses: Fast bowling uncertainty & Injury concerns

Pace Attack Missing Key Names

New Zealand’s biggest concern heading into the tournament is their depleted pace attack. For the first time since 2010, they will be without the legendary duo of Trent Boult and Tim Southee in an ICC event. The injury to Lockie Ferguson just before the tournament further weakens the attack, forcing New Zealand to bring in Kyle Jamieson as his replacement. Matt Henry leads the pace battery but lacks a proven partner with extensive ICC event experience.

Backup pacers Jacob Duffy, Nathan Smith, and Will O’Rourke have only 26 ODI caps among them, making New Zealand’s fast-bowling unit one of the least experienced in the tournament.

Concerns Over Rachin Ravindra’s Form in Pakistan

Despite being one of the breakout stars of the 2023 ODI World Cup with 578 runs, Rachin Ravindra has struggled in Pakistan. In four ODIs in the country, he has managed just 62 runs, a stark contrast to his performances elsewhere. Additionally, a head injury during the recent tri-series forced him out of the latter part of the tournament.