The India Champions and England Champions faced off today in a crucial World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 match at Headingley, Leeds. Both teams were desperate for a win, having struggled to find their footing in the tournament thus far.
Entering the game, India Champions were at the bottom of the points table, having lost both of their matches. Their match against Pakistan was cancelled due to tensions between the two countries, further compounding their woes. England Champions were only slightly better off, placed fifth, also without a win. They had suffered defeats against Pakistan, West Indies and South Africa, with one match against Australia being washed out.
For both squads, the road to the semi-finals was looking increasingly difficult. A loss for England would mean an almost certain exit from the tournament. India's chances also hinged on this game, needing a win to keep their hopes alive.
India Champions, led by Yuvraj Singh, were looking to upstage Eoin Morgan's England Champions. The India Champions squad includes Robin Uthappa, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Stuart Binny, Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, Piyush Chawla, Pawan Negi, Vinay Kumar, Abhimanyu Mithun, Harbhajan Singh, Siddarth Kaul, Varun Aaron and Gurkeerat Singh Mann. The England Champions squad includes Phil Mustard, Ravi Bopara, Moeen Ali, Samit Patel, Ian Bell, Tim Ambrose, Liam Plunkett, Ajmal Shahzad, Stuart Meaker, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Usman Afzaal, James Vince, Ryan Sidebottom, Sir Alastair Cook and Chris Tremlett.
In their previous match, India Champions suffered a narrow defeat against Australia Champions, losing by four wickets with just one ball to spare. Despite the loss, Shikhar Dhawan's impressive form, including a brutal 91 against Australia, and Yusuf Pathan's powerful hitting were positive signs for the team. England Champions were coming off a heavy 10-wicket defeat against South Africa Champions.
The match was set to feature several legendary players. India Champions were relying on the experience of Yuvraj Singh, Irfan Pathan and Suresh Raina. England Champions were hoping for strong performances from their seasoned stars like Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell and Owais Shah.
The toss was scheduled for 8:30 PM IST.
Other matches in the WCL 2025 have seen South Africa Champions thrash Australia Champions by 95 runs. Pakistan Champions defeated West Indies Champions by 49 runs, with Kamran Akmal scoring a century.
