The Indian cricket team has declared their 15-member squad that will play out the much-talked-about Champions Trophy 2025. It is scheduled from the 19th of February through the 9th of March in Pakistan as well as UAE. This cricket tournament is hosting the world’s best teams: India is lined up to meet Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand in their group stages. There have been several significant omissions as well, leaving the important questions and sparks for debate with a lot being discussed about various prominent players remaining outside.
Key Inclusions and Injuries
The squad includes some familiar faces, such as Rohit Sharma, who will lead the team, and Virat Kohli, who will bat at number three. Jasprit Bumrah has made a successful recovery from his injury and has been included in the squad, bolstering the Indian pace attack. Mohammad Shami, who recently played for the country in the domestic T20 series against England, also gets back into the international mix. Another significant inclusion is Yashasvi Jaiswal, who makes his first appearance for the senior ODI team and will be a reserve opener.
However, there were some doubts over the fitness of Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav, both of whom were nursing injuries. Kuldeep had undergone hernia surgery in November and Bumrah was rested after the fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Despite these issues, both of them have managed to make it to the final squad, and Kuldeep is expected to be a big contributor in the spin department along with Ravindra Jadeja.
Fast Bowling Line-up and the Absence of Mohammad Siraj
Fast bowler Mohammad Siraj, who was touted to be included in the team following impressive showings in the recent series, has been overlooked. According to chief selector Ajit Agarkar, the exclusion was more a case of the right combination that the selectors felt was needed. According to Agarkar, the team needed a bowler who could handle the new ball as well as death overs, hence Shami, along with Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, into the side.
Rohit Sharma responded to queries on Siraj’s absence that it was not an easy call. He also said Siraj’s impact comes more with the new ball, and while Bumrah is around, it is important to have somebody else who can take wickets at both ends. In that sense, Arshdeep Singh was a better fit for the unit because of the balance that was looked for.
Middle Order and All-Rounders For Champions Trophy 2025
India’s middle order is largely similar to the side that played in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul are retained while Hardik Pandya continues as a key all-rounder, along with Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. Washington Sundar has been added as the fourth all-rounder for added flexibility in the team.
The availability of more all-rounders has forced India to include only three specialist seamers in their eleven, who are Bumrah, Shami, and Arshdeep Singh. There is an obvious reason behind it-a team strategy, a balance between an attack and immense batting depth and the availability of all-rounders.
India has named two wicketkeepers in the squad for the Champions Trophy. KL Rahul will be the primary wicketkeeper, with Rishabh Pant as the backup. Notably, Pant has been preferred over Sanju Samson, who did not feature in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. This decision underscores Pant’s consistency and experience, particularly in high-pressure situations.
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Unlucky Exclusions: Karun Nair and Mohammad Siraj
One of the most debatable exclusions from the team is that of Karun Nair, the talented batsman who scored a remarkable 752 runs in seven innings during the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Despite his excellent form, Nair could not make it to the team with the selectors citing the good performances of the selected players. Ajit Agarkar observed that there had been talks regarding the inclusion of Nair but felt that at an average of more than 40 by the batsmen chosen, it would be difficult to fit him in currently. Still, Agarkar hinted that if injuries creep up during the final stages of preparation for the event, Nair might just find a berth.
India’s Group Matches in the Champions Trophy
India has been placed in Group A of the Champions Trophy, where they will face stiff competition from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand. India’s campaign will begin with a match against Bangladesh on February 20, followed by a high-stakes encounter with Pakistan on February 23. The final group-stage match will be against New Zealand on March 2. All of India’s matches are scheduled to be held in Dubai, as the Indian government has decided against sending the team to Pakistan for the matches.
India’s Preparatory ODIs Against England
The Champions Trophy is preceded by a three-match ODI series for India against England, to be played in early February. The games are on 6, 9, and 12 February, which would be the final preparation matches before the Champions Trophy. It is India’s first ODI tour since their 2024 trip to Sri Lanka and would help players to polish their skills for the tournament.
This Indian team has adequately balanced experience and youth; some of the key players in contention include Bumrah and Shami, with Kohli headlining while a newer face like Jaiswal is also thrown into the fray. Though the selection has had its set of controversies, the most obvious ones have been the exclusion of Mohammad Siraj and Karun Nair.
As the Champions Trophy approaches, their performance in the ODI series against England is going to be keenly watched before the final change in the team. The submission deadline for the final squad will be February 11, and all eyes would be on preparation and performance ahead of defending one of the strong teams in the world of cricket.
India Squad for the Champions Trophy 2025
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– Rohit Sharma (c)
– Shubman Gill
– KL Rahul
– Virat Kohli
– Hardik Pandya
– Shreyas Iyer
– Axar Patel
– Washington Sundar
– Kuldeep Yadav
– Jasprit Bumrah
– Arshdeep Singh
– Mohammed Shami
– Yashasvi Jaiswal
– Rishabh Pant
– Ravindra Jadeja
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