Table of Contents
The Indian cricket team is gearing up for an exciting journey in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, starting with their opening match against Bangladesh on February 20. With a star-studded batting line-up and a spin-heavy squad, India aims to dominate the tournament in Dubai. However, the absence of pace ace Jasprit Bumrah brings its share of challenges.
Strengths: Batting and Spin Mastery
India’s batting line-up remains their biggest weapon, featuring cricketing giants like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and Hardik Pandya. Both Rohit and Kohli, coming off a stellar performance in the IND vs ENG ODI series, are expected to lead from the front. Shreyas Iyer has cemented his role at number four, while Gill offers consistency as the vice-captain and anchor. The depth provided by KL Rahul, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja makes India’s batting order a nightmare for bowlers.
On the bowling front, India has gone all-in with a five-spinner strategy. Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakravarthy form a lethal spin attack that can exploit Dubai’s surfaces. Washington Sundar serves as a reliable backup. While critics question the abundance of spinners in the squad, India is betting on them to dominate the middle overs.
Weakness: The Missing Pace Star
India’s pace department, however, will face scrutiny. With Jasprit Bumrah unavailable, the team is left relying on Mohammad Shami, who is still finding his rhythm after a long injury hiatus. The inclusion of Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana over seasoned campaigner Mohammed Siraj raises eyebrows, as both lack experience in high-pressure ODIs. Hardik Pandya, acting as a secondary pacer, will need to step up to support Shami.
India’s Squad for Champions Trophy 2025
- Captain: Rohit Sharma
- Vice-captain: Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Shami
Non-traveling substitutes: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj, Shivam Dube
As the countdown to the Champions Trophy begins, fans of the Indian cricket team eagerly await the action-packed games ahead. India’s quest to add another ICC trophy to their cabinet promises to be thrilling.
Stay updated on all the latest Champions Trophy updates with Cricket Army, your trusted companion for cricket news!
