Who will be the fastest bowlers at the Champions Trophy? These 7 pace aces should be among the quickest

Jofra Archer plays cricket for England
Jofra Archer, if he remains free of injury, should be one of the quickest bowlers at the 2025 Champions Trophy.

The Champion’s Trophy is a matter of weeks away as the best players in the world prepare to gather in Pakistan and the UAE to duke it out for the second major piece of ICC ODI silverware.

While the West Indies and Sri Lanka failed to qualify for the eight-team tournament all the other major team will be present. Pool A is set to feature Bangladesh, India, New Zealand and Pakistan, while Pool B is comprised of Afghanistan, Australia, England and South Africa.

As the teams announce their squads for the event, let’s delve into who is likeliest to be the fastest bowler participating at the showpiece event.

7. Nahid Rana (Bangladesh) – fastest recorded ball: 152 kilometres per hour

Young, raw and fast. Rana came late to cricket, only starting to play when he was 18. Now just 22 years old he is the record holder of the fastest ever ball by a Bangladeshi bowler.

This is a player with a big future ahead of him and someone who is surely still going to get faster. He’s played just three ODI’s where he has managed four wickets, but in List A games he has taken 30 in 13 at an average of 18.46. Keep an eye on him.

6. Jasprit Bumrah (India) – fastest recorded ball: 153 kilometres per hour

On current form he’s the best bowler in the world, even if he isn’t quite the fastest. But that’s not to say that he doesn’t have what it takes to bowl at over 150kpm.

Bumrah is feared around the world for his pace, accuracy ability to move the ball off the seam and through the air. With his unconventional action he’s not an easy customer to negotiate.

5. Kagiso Rabada (South Africa) – fastest recorded ball: 154 kilometres per hour

Fast and feared, Rabada recently became the fastest South Africa bowler to reach the 300 Test wicket mark.

Considering his competition for the record included the likes of Allan Donald, Dale Steyn and Shaun pollock that’s no mean feat. Rabada boasts plenty of white ball experience Rabada boasts best ODI figures of six for 16.

Read more: All the 2025 Champions Trophy squads

4. Jofra Archer (England) – fastest recorded ball: 154 kilometres per hour

Archer has struggled with injury in recent times, including a problem elbow and stress fracture to is back, but he is fit again and back in England‘s squad for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.

Tall and menacing Archer should be at in his prime as he approaches 30. Fast and strong but with experience, he has dominated before at major events, claiming 20 wickets in England’s title-winning campaign at World Cup 2019. He was the man tasked with bowling the Super Over in the tournament’s final.

3. Anrich Nortje (South Africa) – fastest recorded ball: 156 kilometres per hour

The holder of the fastest ball in IPL cricket, Nortje has been out of the game for a while as he has struggled with injury. It was a broken toe which has kept Nortje from playing international cricket since June 2024. But he is back in the proteas squad and ready to deliver with coach Rob Walter opting to pick him ahead of Gerald Coetzee.

Explaining his decision to pick Nortje ahead if Coetzee, Walter said: “They both offer high pace, but Anrich has a little bit more experience and potentially some attributes that will stand us in good stead in Pakistan.”

2. Lockie Ferguson (New Zealand) – fastest recorded ball: 157 kilometres per hour

Prior to their three-game series against Sri Lanka, New Zealand had played just three ODI’s in a year. That doesn’t make them a bad team though as they have threats all over the park.

With the ability to reach great speeds Lockie Ferguson will be a key part of their attack. Now 33-years-old Fergusson is on the older side for a fast-bowler, but he remains quick. With best ODI figures of five for 45, Fergusson, record in ODI’s is not nearly as good as it is in T20I – where his bowling average is just 17. That said, he is fast in both formats!

1. Mitchell Starc (Australia) – fastest recorded ball: 160 kilometres per hour

Australia’s man of the moment, Starc is the fastest bowler in the world who is still playing, having been measured at over 160kph in a Test. Starc’s not just quick he’s also a lefty and very tall, which always makes things extra complicated for batsmen.

Standing at 1.96m tall he can generate steepling bounce. He averages 23.4 in ODI’s with best figures of six for 28 against New Zealand in 2015.

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