England’s campaign in the Champions Trophy 2025 came to a disappointing end following a high-scoring defeat to Afghanistan, marking their second consecutive loss to the same team in an ICC ODI tournament. The loss followed an earlier failure to defend 351 against Australia, leaving England without a victory in the tournament. With their semi-final hopes dashed, the England skipper Jos Buttler faced a tough post-match interview conducted by former England captain and renowned broadcaster Michael Atherton.
Despite reducing Afghanistan to 37/3 in the powerplay, England allowed them to rebuild and post a formidable 325/7, thanks to a record-breaking knock from Ibrahim Zadran, who scored 177 off 146 balls. England’s chase showed promise, particularly with Joe Root’s brilliant innings keeping them in contention. When Joe Root and Jamie Overton were at the crease, needing just 39 runs off 26 balls, the game seemed well within reach. However, Joe Root’s dismissal in the 46th over turned the match on its head and the lower order faltered under pressure, ultimately getting bowled out for 317, falling just 8 runs short.
This defeat marked England’s fifth consecutive loss in ODIs. They entered the Champions Trophy on the back of a 3-0 series defeat to India, continuing a downward spiral since their T20 World Cup triumph in 2022. Their performances in ICC events have been underwhelming, with an early exit in the ODI World Cup 2023 and a semi-final defeat to India in last year’s T20 World Cup.
During the post-match discussion, Michael Atherton questioned Jos Buttler about England’s repeated shortcomings, his own form and the future of his captaincy. Jos Buttler acknowledged the disappointment of an early exit and pointed out missed opportunities in the match. He praised Joe Root’s innings and admitted that England needed a top-order batter to stay with him longer. He also highlighted Afghanistan’s late surge in the final ten overs, which ultimately took the game away from England.
Michael Atherton further pressed Jos Buttler on England’s inability to close out games, the injury to Mark Wood and the surprising decision to have Joe Root bowl the 47th over. Jos Buttler credited Mark Wood for showing immense character despite his injury and defended the team’s choices under difficult circumstances. On his own form, Jos Buttler admitted that he had been struggling for an extended period, expressing frustration at not performing to the level expected from him.
The final question revolved around England’s recent failures in the ICC tournaments and the implications for Jos Buttler’s leadership. He refrained from making immediate decisions but suggested that all possibilities should be considered regarding the future of his captaincy.
With England facing yet another ICC event disappointment, the scrutiny on their white-ball setup, strategies and leadership is set to intensify in the coming months.
