New Delhi, January 18, 2025: India unveiled their 15-member squad for the highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025, alongside the ODI series against England. Indian captain Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar announced the squad during a press conference ahead of the tournament, which will be hosted by Pakistan and the UAE.
The return of veteran pacer Mohammed Shami, who last played in the 2023 ODI World Cup final against Australia, is a major boost to India’s bowling lineup. His inclusion comes as the team gears up for the prestigious tournament.
However, there is uncertainty over the availability of Jasprit Bumrah for the Champions Trophy. Bumrah, currently recovering from a back injury, has been excluded from the ODI series against England. His participation in the Champions Trophy will depend on his fitness. In his absence, Harshit Rana has been called up as a replacement for the England series.
In a surprising move, fast bowler Mohammad Siraj and wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson were left out. However, Shreyas Iyer and Kuldeep Yadav return to the squad after missing recent matches.
Speaking about Siraj’s exclusion, Captain Rohit Sharma said, “We chose Arshdeep Singh to cover all facets of bowling in case Bumrah isn’t available. Siraj is most effective with the new ball, but Arshdeep and Shami bring balance across all phases—early overs, middle overs, and the death.”
Rohit also highlighted the inclusion of four spinners, explaining their all-round abilities: “Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, and Ravindra Jadeja are all capable of contributing with both bat and ball, while Kuldeep Yadav brings variety with his left-arm chinaman bowling. Together, they cover all spin options.”
Ajit Agarkar assured that Shami is match-ready: “Shami has participated in domestic tournaments like the Syed Mushtaq Ali and Vijay Hazare Trophy. Including him in the squad helps him regain momentum for international cricket.”
India’s Squad for Champions Trophy 2025
- Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashaswi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja
India’s Squad for ODI Series vs England
- Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashaswi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja
