India Squad for Champions Trophy 2025 Announced

The Indian cricket team has announced its squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, led by Rohit Sharma with Shubman Gill as his vice-captain, as they prepare to face Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand in the tournament, which starts on February 20 in Dubai.

The squad includes a mix of experienced players like Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel, as well as newcomers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Prasidh Krishna. The selectors have chosen to stick with experienced players, despite speculation about the inclusion of younger players like Sanju Samson and Karun Nair, who have been in good form in domestic cricket. The team will play three ODIs against England before the Champions Trophy, starting on February 6.

Notably, Jasprit Bumrah's fitness remains a concern, and Mohammed Shami has been included in the squad in his place. Kuldeep Yadav's fitness is also being closely monitored, and the team will review the squad again before the tournament. The BCCI has emphasized the importance of domestic cricket, and the selectors have taken this into account while picking the squad. Hardik Pandya is expected to make a comeback to the ODI team after a long layoff, and his inclusion in the squad will provide a boost to the team's batting and bowling departments.

With the Champions Trophy title on the line, India will look to reclaim the trophy in Dubai next month. The team's preparation and strategy will be crucial in the lead-up to the tournament, and fans will be eager to see how the squad performs against strong opponents like Pakistan and New Zealand. The final squad may undergo changes before the Champions Trophy starts, with the team needing to submit the final 15-man squad to the ICC by February 11.