After India’s tour of Australia finish, there are big changes in the Test team pending, but they will have to wait as the focus will shift to ODI cricket with the deadline to announce the squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy (CT) is nearing.
India faces a tough challenge in picking the team as they play just three ODIs in 2024.
As the team is largely settle in the format, there is no recent form to pick from.
Team India will play three ODIs against England at home in February, but that will be after the squad selection deadline.
As it is expect that BCCI will name the squad for the bilateral series and the mega event at the same time with no major changes.
Despite his poor form in Test cricket and him not playing the Sydney Test, Rohit Sharma will lead the team in the Champions Trophy.
Virat Kohli’s nightmare form in red-ball cricket should not affect his place in ODI cricket, where no player in history has more centuries than him.
As Yashasvi Jaiswal has already cement himself among the best batters in world cricket in Tests and T20Is, he is yet to make his ODI debut, and a place in the squad for the mega event looks unlikely.
Shubman Gill should retain his spot as Rohit Sharma’s opening partner.
He has a terrific record in the 50-over format with a batting average of 58.2.
Shreyas Iyer might not be in India’s scheme of things in the other two formats, but his performances in ODI cricket are hard to ignore.
He has cement his spot at number four.
India faces a tough task in picking their two wicketkeeper batters with a fight between KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Sanju Samson for the spot.
As Sanju Samson score a century in the last ODI he play, he was not part of the squad for the Sri Lanka series in August.
Sanju Samson is not playing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT), which can have given him the chance to prove his credentials in the 50-over format.
So, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant should retain their spot in the squad.
Hardik Pandya has not play any ODI cricket since his injury in the 2023 Cricket World Cup, but the star all-rounder is playing the VHT, and when fit, he is an irreplaceable asset for the Men in Blue in white-ball cricket.
The team will be wary of a need to have a backup ready for Hardik Pandya, and after his impressive T20I and Test debuts, a place in the ODI team should follow for Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Kuldeep Yadav is under a fitness monitoring after undergoing surgery recently, he is expect to be the team’s first-choice wrist spinner.
If Kuldeep Yadav is not fit, a call-up for Ravi Bishnoi should follow.
Only two among, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar are set to be name in the squad.
Washington Sundar’s return to the Test team shows the team management’s faith in him, as Ravindra Jadeja can get the nod over Axar Patel, as two left-arm spinners are unlikely.
Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj dominated the 2023 World Cup, and the trio are set for a reunion in the UAE if all three are fit.
Mohammed Shami has not play for India since November 2023, but he has proven his fitness in domestic cricket across formats over the last two months.
Arshdeep Singh is India’s most successful pacer in T20Is and was part of the ODI squad in the last two assignments.
12th January 2025 is the deadline to announce the squad.
India will play their first match in the tournament against Bangladesh on 20th February 2025 before facing Pakistan and New Zealand on 23rd February 2025 and 2nd March 2025.
All matches of Indian Team will take place at the Dubai International Stadium.
India Probable Squad For Champions Trophy 2025
- Rohit Sharma (C),
- Shubman Gill,
- Virat Kohli,
- Shreyas Iyer,
- KL Rahul (WK),
- Rishabh Pant (WK),
- Hardik Pandya,
- Nitish Kumar Reddy,
- Ravindra Jadeja,
- Washington Sundar / Shivam Dubey,
- Kuldeep Yadav* / Ravi Bishnoi,
- Jasprit Bumrah,
- Mohammed Shami,
- Mohammed Siraj,
- Arshdeep Singh
