The World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025, the second edition of this T20 tournament, brought together six “Champion” teams: South Africa Champions, Australia Champions, Pakistan Champions, England Champions, India Champions, and West Indies Champions for a festival of nostalgia and elite cricketing prowess. Running from 18 July to 2 August 2025, the tournament unfolded across four historic English venues: Birmingham, Northampton, Leicester, and Leeds. It was crafted to celebrate cricketing legends and fan favorites while delivering competitive action.
Nations & Venues
- Australia Champions
- England Champions
- South Africa Champions
- Pakistan Champions
- India Champions
- West Indies Champions
The matches were hosted at Edgbaston, Northampton, Leicester and Leeds.
Group Stage & Standings
South Africa Champions and Pakistan Champions emerged as the strongest performers in the group stage:
- Pakistan Champions topped the points table with 9 points (4 wins, 0 losses; NRR +2.494).
- South Africa Champions closely followed with 8 points (4 wins, 1 loss; NRR +2.595).
Other positions: Australia Champions (5 points), India Champions (3 points), England Champions (3), West Indies Champions (2).
Knockout Phase
Semi-Finals
- Pakistan Champions advanced to the final via walkover as India Champions forfeited the first semi-final.
- South Africa Champions defeated Australia Champions by 1 run in the second semi-final to reach the final.
Final
- Pakistan Champions: 195/5 (20 overs)
- South Africa Champions: 197/1 (16.5 overs) → Won by 9 wickets with 19 balls remaining
Match Highlights:
- AB de Villiers starred with an unbeaten 120 off 60 balls, clinching both Player of the Match and Player of the Series.
- JP Duminy contributed a brisk 50 off 28 balls.
- For Pakistan, Sharjeel Khan top-scored with 76 (44) and Umar Amin added 36 (19).
What Went Wrong for the India Champions?
- Inconsistent results: Despite flashes of brilliance (Dhawan, Pathan), India Champions suffered narrow but critical defeats, including the 23-run loss to England Champions.
- Semi-final forfeit: India’s walkover denied them a shot at redemption, raising questions about team management, player availability, or external factors. The lack of an official statement is a notable gap.
- Momentum failure: After the high vs. Australia, India failed to string together wins. Amidst tight group competition, they dropped out before the decisive stage.
These unfortunate situations cost them the chance to defend their WCL 2024 title.
Tournament in Numbers (*Wins-Losses)
| Category | Statistic |
| Final Margin | South Africa won by 9 wickets with 19 balls to spare |
| Top Performer | AB de Villiers – 120* off 60; Player of Match & Series |
| India Highlights | Dhawan 91*, Pathan explosive finish vs Australia; lost to England, forfeited semi-final |
| Standings (Points) | PAK-C: 9 (4–0), SA-C: 8 (4–1), IND-C: 3 (1–3)* |
From Forfeit to Final Drama: South Africa Outshine Pakistan to Seal Historic WCL Triumph
The World Championship of Legends 2025 culminated in a statement performance by South Africa Champions, led impeccably by AB de Villiers with a stunning century. The tournament delivered high drama, on and off the field, from walkovers to viral proposals. India Champions, once pre-tournament favorites, slipped early despite talent and sparkle, ultimately forfeiting their semi-final and missing the final. Their underwhelming campaign underscores that legends may still falter under pressure. Meanwhile, South Africa etched their names firmly into WCL folklore.
Tanya Singh 
Baishali Karmakar 
Soureesh Datta