The Indian cricket team has flown to Dubai for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The tournament will begin on February 19, while Team India will start its campaign on February 20. In the first match, the Indian team will face neighboring country Bangladesh. After this, the battle between India and Pakistan will be seen on February 23.
The Event Will Be Organized in a Hybrid Model
The hosting of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 was handed over to Pakistan. However, due to security reasons, the Indian team did not travel to Pakistan. In such a situation, this event is being played in a hybrid model. The Indian team will play all its matches at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai. Other matches will be played at Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi stadiums in Pakistan.
Only 5 Indian Players Played Champions Trophy
The ICC Champions Trophy is returning after 8 years. The last time this tournament was played was in 2017. After this, the ICC decided to discontinue it. This tournament is being played again after a long time, so very few Indian players have experience playing in it. Out of the 15 players in the Indian squad, only 5 players have played the Champions Trophy in their career.
10 Indian Players to Debut in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025
The Indian team selected for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has 5 players from the Champions Trophy 2017. These include Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, and fast bowler Mohammed Shami. Let us tell you that Virat Kohli was the captain of the Indian team in the Champions Trophy 2017. In such a situation, it can be said that 10 Indian players will debut in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Experience of Playing ODI on Dubai Pitch
Not only this, but 10 Indian players are going to make their ODI debut in Dubai. In fact, in the 15-member Indian team selected for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, only 5 players have played ODIs on the Dubai ground. Apart from captain Rohit Sharma (5), it includes KL Rahul (1), Hardik Pandya (1), Kuldeep Yadav (6), and Ravindra Jadeja (4). Kuldeep Yadav has the most experience of playing ODIs in Dubai.
Indian Team’s Performance in Dubai
- The Indian cricket team has played 6 ODI matches in Dubai so far.
- The Indian team has a good record at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
- Team India has not lost any ODI match on the ground of Dubai so far.
- India has won 5 matches at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
- One match on this ground has ended in a tie.
Indian Team for ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakraborty.
Second ICC Trophy in a Year
Under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, India won the T20 World Cup jointly hosted by West Indies and America in June 2024. Now if Rohit makes India win the Champions Trophy 2025, then this will be India’s second ICC trophy within 9 months. With this, Rohit will be the second captain of India to win 2 ICC trophies. Mahendra Singh Dhoni was the first to do this. India has won 3 ICC trophies under Dhoni’s captaincy.
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