Six potential breakout stars to watch at the Champions Trophy

The ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy is set to begin on Wednesday with the Group A match between hosts Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi.

A bunch of new faces from the eight participating teams will get a chance to make a name for themselves in the event and emerge as the breakout star of the tournament.

Just days before the tournament commences, here is a look as six less heralded players who could emerge as game changers at the 50-over tournament:

Varun Chakravarthy (India)

A late entry into the Indian squad for the tournament, wrist spinner Varun Chakravarthy adds value to the bowling line-up on expected slow pitches in Dubai.

The 33-year-old only made his ODI debut in this month’s England series after claiming 14 wickets in India’s 4-1 T20 triumph.

He has been a standout in the Indian Premier League 20-over tournament and played a key role with 21 wickets in Kolkata Knight Riders’ title triumph last year.

Chakravarthy is part of a formidable Indian spin attack, and coach Gautam Gambhir said he could offer the “X-factor”.

Tayyab Tahir (Pakistan)

Middle-order batsman Tayyab Tahir was a breakout star for Pakistan in the 2023 Emerging Teams Asia Cup when his sparkling century led the team to victory in the final against arch-rivals India.

Tahir, 31, enjoyed a good run in the domestic circuit and a few T20 outings for Pakistan before making his ODI debut last year.

His scores in white-ball internationals have been moderate, with his highest 39 not out in a T20 game.

But Tayyab has had praise from pundits, with fast bowling great Wasim Akram calling him a “very exciting talent” after his batting blitz in the Pakistan Super League.

Tom Banton (England)

Somerset batsman Tom Banton joined England in India for the final ODI of this month’s series and showed glimpses of his talent in a 38-run knock for a losing cause.

The 26-year-old, who took guard at number three in Ahmedabad, came in as cover for injured Jacob Bethell and replaced him in England’s Champions Trophy squad.

Playing his seventh ODI and his first since August 2020, Banton took on the Indian spinners and made a six off Washington Sundar with a spectacular switch hit over backward point.

Banton has been in top form in T20 franchise cricket and is the leading batter in the United Arab Emirates’ premier competition, amassing 493 runs including two centuries from 11 innings.

Aaron Hardie (Australia)

Seam-bowling all-rounder Aaron Hardie, 26, gets his chance after the sudden retirement of Marcus Stoinis ahead of the Champions Trophy.

Hardie, a right-arm pacer and powerful batter, rattled Sri Lanka with figures of 2-13 and then made 32 with the bat before Australia went down in Colombo last week.

He turned heads in 2018 when he dismissed Indian top guns Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in a tour game for Cricket Australia XI and hit 86 with the bat.

Hardie made his white-ball debut for Australia in 2023 but is still awaiting a performance that cements his place in the team.

Will O’Rourke (New Zealand)

Standing an imposing six feet, four inches (1.93 meters), the fast bowler has impressed in his nine ODI matches and is set to play in his first ICC tournament.

The 23-year-old O’Rourke made his ODI debut in 2023 but it was his opening Test at home last year that got him attention after he claimed a match haul of nine wickets against South Africa.

He recently played a starring role with figures of 4-43 for the Black Caps in their win over Pakistan in the tri-series final in Karachi — the venue for the Champions Trophy opener between the same two teams.

With tearaway quick Ben Sears ruled out and Lockie Ferguson recovering from a hamstring injury, New Zealand will depend on O’Rourke and senior quick Matt Henry to fire.

Nahid Rana (Bangladesh)

Last but certainly not least in the list is Bangladesh’s pace sensation Nahid Rana.

On the back of an ODI career which is just three-match young, Rana has been picked more on the basis of potential than performance.

Bangladesh selectors are banking on his raw pace and hoping that the 22-year-old can emerge as the X-factor in the Tigers’ attack.

Although Rana is yet to complete his first year in international cricket, he already has had the taste of playing both in the UAE and Pakistan as the pacer had made his ODI debut in 2024 against Afghanistan in Sharjah and was a key figure in Bangladesh’s 2-0 Test series win against hosts Pakistan in August last year.

Rana turned a lot of heads last year with his quickness but a tournament like the Champions Trophy presents the perfect stage to truly showcase what he can do to the world.

Can Rana cash in on this opportunity, we’ll soon find out.