The ICC Champions Trophy is an ODI cricket tournament organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC). It was known as the ICC KnockOut Tournament during its inauguration in 1998 and the name was later changed to the Champions Trophy in 2002, as per the ICC’s official website.
South Africa, India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and England have been the prominent teams participating in the tournament. They were joined by a few associate countries or non-test playing nations like Bangladesh, Kenya, Netherlands, United States, and Zimbabwe till 2006. However, since the 2009 edition, only the top eight ranked teams have been eligible to play in the tournament, based on the ICC’s official website.
Winners of the ICC Champions Trophy
According to the ICC’s official website, the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will begin on February 19, 2025. As of January 2025, Pakistan are the defending champions. Eight winners have clinched the ICC Champions Trophy with the trophy being shared in the 2002 edition.
| Year | Host Nation(s) | Winner | Runner-up | Result | Player of Tournament | Highest run scorer | Highest wicket-taker |
| 1998 | Bangladesh | South Africa | West Indies | South Africa won by 4 wickets | Jacques Kallis | Philo Wallace (221 runs) | Jacques Kallis (8 wickets) |
| 2000 | Kenya | New Zealand | India | New Zealand won by 4 wickets | Not Awarded | Sourav Ganguly (348 runs) | Venkatesh Prasad (8 wickets) |
| 2002 | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka and India | None | India and Sri Lanka declared joint winners | Not Awarded | Virender Sehwag (271 runs) | Muttiah Muralitharan (10 wickets) |
| 2004 | England | West Indies | England | West Indies won by 2 wickets | Ramnaresh Sarwan | Marcus Trescothick (261 runs) | Andrew Flintoff (9 wickets) |
| 2006 | India | Australia | West Indies | Australia won by 8 wickets | Chris Gayle | Chris Gayle (474 runs) | Jerome Taylor (13 wickets) |
| 2009 | South Africa | Australia | New Zealand | Australia won 6 wickets | Ricky Ponting | Ricky Ponting (288 runs) | Wayne Parnell (11 wickets) |
| 2013 | England and Wales | India | England | India won by 5 runs | Shikhar Dhawan | Shikhar Dhawan (363 runs) | Wayne Parnell (12 wickets) |
| 2017 | England and Wales | Pakistan | India | Pakistan won by 180 runs | Hasan Ali | Shikhar Dhawan (338 runs) | Hasan Ali (13 wickets) |
*Updated January 2025
Wills International Cup 1998
The first edition of the ICC Knockout Trophy, officially known as the Wills International Cup, took place in Bangladesh in 1998. Under the captaincy of Hansie Cronje, South Africa won the inaugural edition of the tournament, defeating the West Indies in the final on November 1, 1998, held in the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka. The Proteas won by 4 wickets. South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis was named the ‘Player of the Match’ for scoring 37 runs and taking a five-wicket haul. He was also named the ‘player of the tournament’ for scoring 164 runs and picking up 8 wickets.
ICC KnockOut Trophy 2000
The ICC KnockOut Trophy 2000 was held in Nairobi, Kenya, and New Zealand were crowned champions. Led by Stephen Fleming, they defeated India by 4 wickets at the Gymkhana Club Ground in Nairobi on October 15, 2000. New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns was named the ‘Player of the Match’ for scoring an unbeaten century (102 off 113 balls).
ICC Champions Trophy 2002
The third edition of the ICC Champions Trophy was hosted by Sri Lanka in 2002. The final was washed out at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on September 30, 2002. Finalists Sri Lanka and India shared the trophy.
ICC Champions Trophy 2004
England hosted the fourth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy in 2004. Led by Brian Lara, the West Indies defeated the hosts England by 2 wickets at the Kennington Oval on September 25, 2004. Pacer Ian Bradshaw, the ‘Player of the Match,’ returned with figures of 2/54 and scored an unbeaten 34 off 51 balls. Middle-order batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan was adjudged the ‘Player of the Series’ for amassing 166 runs.
ICC Champions Trophy 2006
The ICC Champions Trophy 2006 was held in India. Under the leadership of Ricky Ponting, Australia defeated the West Indies by 8 wickets at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on November 5, 2006. Australian all-rounder Shane Watson was named the ‘Player of the Match’ for scoring an unbeaten 57 off 88 balls and taking two wickets.Opener Chris Gayle was adjudged the ‘Player of the Series’ for scoring 474 runs and taking 8 wickets.
ICC Champions Trophy 2009
South Africa hosted the ICC Champions Trophy in 2009. Australia defeated New Zealand and won the final by 6 wickets. Shane Watson scored an unbeaten century and was named the ‘Player of the Match.’ Skipper Ricky Ponting was adjudged the ‘Player of the Series’ for scoring 288 runs.
ICC Champions Trophy 2013
England hosted the sixth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013. Led by MS Dhoni, India defeated the hosts by 5 runs at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Ravindra Jadeja was named the ‘player of the match’ for his all-round performance of an unbeaten 33 off 25 balls and taking 2/24. Opener Shikhar Dhawan, the ‘Player of the Tournament,’ scored 363 runs.
ICC Champions Trophy 2017
The next edition was also hosted by England in 2017. Under captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, Pakistan defeated arch-rivals India by 180 runs at the Kennington Oval in London on June 18, 2017. Opener Fakhar Zaman was named the ‘Player of the Match’ for scoring 114 off 106 balls. The ‘Player of the Series,’ Hasan Ali, took 13 wickets.
FAQs on ICC Champions Trophy winners
A. South Africa won the inaugural edition of the ICC Champions Trophy (known as the Wills International Cup) in 1998.
A. As of January 2025, Pakistan is the defending champions of the ICC Champions Trophy.
A. Sri Lanka and India shared the ICC Champions Trophy in 2002.
A. Australia has won the ICC Champions Trophy twice (2006 and 2009).
A. As of January 2025, eight teams have clinched the ICC Champions Trophy.
