3 Out Of Form New Zealand Players Ahead Of Champions Trophy 2025

Will Young [Source: @iamMK_46/X.com]

As the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy knocks on the door, New Zealand’s campaign is shadowed by growing concerns over the form of several players. Known for their resilience and tactical nous in global tournaments, the Black Caps’ recent performances have exposed vulnerabilities, particularly among batters and all-rounders tasked with anchoring the lineup. 

With the tournament’s fast-approaching fixtures in Pakistan, the pressure is mounting on underperforming stars to rediscover their mojo and justify their roles in a squad that prides itself on collective grit. Here are the three players who are currently out of form and need to regain form ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025.

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1. Will Young

Will Young’s struggle for consistency has become a glaring issue. Across his last six white-ball innings, he has crossed 20 runs just once, a scratchy 35 in a domestic T20 game. In ODIs against South Africa, he averaged a dismal 11.5, repeatedly falling to loose shots early in his innings. 

Young's inability to weather the powerplay or build partnerships has left New Zealand’s top-order exposed, raising questions about his suitability as an opener in high-stakes tournaments. 

Pakistan Tri-Series 2025 Stats

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2. Tom Latham

The veteran wicketkeeper-batter, often hailed for his composure in crises, is enduring a rare lean patch. In his last five innings, Tom Latham has been dismissed for single-digit scores four times, including one golden duck. Even his lone knock of 26 in a domestic T20 came at a sluggish strike rate of 113. 

For a player central to stabilizing the middle order, his recent tendency to misjudge lengths and struggle to score is alarming as Pakistan pitches can get dangerous for batters at times. Though he waved the bat against Pakistan in the final match of the recently concluded Tri-Series, his ducks in the first two matches continues to be a concern.

Pakistan Tri-Series 2025

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3. Nathan Smith

Nathan Smith’s dual role has lost its sheen at the worst possible time. The 26-year-old all-rounder from New Zealand has been lacking in both the departments. With the bat, his cameos lack impact, averaging just 11.8 in his last five innings. 

Smith's bowling, meanwhile, has been erratic, while he picked wickets in four of his last six games, his economy rate ballooned to 6.65 in ODIs and 8.14 in T20s. Against Pakistan, his 1/46 in 7 overs highlighted struggles to contain runs during critical phases, undermining his reputation as a tight middle-overs operator.

Pakistan Tri-Series 2025

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For New Zealand, addressing these slumps are non-negotiable. Young’s technical flaws against swing, Latham’s waning confidence, and Smith’s inability to balance aggression with control could derail their Champions Trophy ambitions. 

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