The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is knocking at our door with the tournament opener set to be played between hosts Pakistan and New Zealand on February 19 at the National Stadium in Karachi. As the marquee ICC event of the year draws near, cricket fans are waiting with bated breath for the start of the competition. As the world's top eight teams fight it out for ultimate glory, here is a look at the leading run-scorer of each of the eight sides that are competing in the competition since 2020. The stats have been complied across all formats of international cricket. Pakistan Although there has been criticism over his leadership and sometimes over his strike-rate in white-ball cricket when it comes to consistency over a period of time, Babar Azam's numbers show why he is one of the finest batters in world cricket. The right-handed batter has scored 8006 runs from 176 matches at an average of 43.74, striking at 81.13. Babar has accumulated those runs with the help of 16 centuries and 59 fifties. England For England, it is Joe Root who has been their leading run-scorer across formats since 2020. He has scored 6391 runs from 94 matches at an average of 49.54 and a strike rate of 64.03. He has accumulated those runs with the help of 19 hundreds and 27 fifties. India No prizes for guessing, India's leading run-scorer in international cricket since 2020 is Virat Kohli. The right-handed batter has featured in 144 matches, scored 5937 runs in them at an average of 39.84. Kohli's strike rate has been 76.27. He has scored 11 tons and 41 half-centuries since 2020. Australia For Australia, it is Steve Smith who has done the bulk of the scoring across all formats since 2020. He has amassed 5517 runs from 124 matches, averaging 42.43 at a strike rate of 62.37. Smith scored those runs with the aid of 14 centuries and 25 fifties. Bangladesh Bangladesh is the only team that has not included its leading run-scorer across all formats since 2020 in their Champions Trophy squad. That happens to be Litton Das. The stumper has scored 5368 runs from 161 matches at an average of 31.39, at a strike rate of 78.62. Litton has slammed 8 hundreds and 31 fifties. Among those included in the squad, it is Najmul Hossain Shanto with 4130 runs since 2020 across formats who is Bangladesh's leading run-scorer. New Zealand For the Kiwis, it is Daryl Mitchell who has been their leading run-getter across formats since 2020. He has scored 5065 runs from 136 matches, averaging 39.57. In addition, he has a strike rate of 78.71. Mitchell has 11 tons and 28 half-centuries. South Africa Aiden Markram has scored 4427 runs from 128 matches. He is the leading run-scorer for the Proteas across formats and averages 35.13 with a strike rate of 86.60. Markram has slammed 6 hundreds and 25 fifties over the course of this period. Afghanistan Afghanistan's leading run-scorer since 2020 is Rahmanullah Gurbaz. The stumper has scored 3276 runs, at an average of 30.90. His strike rate has been 102.63. Gurbaz has accumulated the runs with the help of 9 centuries and 14 fifties.Original Article