Champions Trophy 2025 India Squad: India’s long and challenging Test calendar ended on a disappointing note on Sunday, as the team faced back-to-back series defeats. This poor performance not only saw India concede the top spot in the World Test Championship points table but also led to their elimination from the race to make it to the final. In what has been a turbulent phase for the Indian Test side, they lost seven of their last eight Test matches, including an unprecedented 0-3 whitewash at home against New Zealand.
A New Beginning: Focus Shifts to White-Ball Cricket
With the Test season behind them, the Indian team’s attention now turns to white-ball cricket, with the ICC Champions Trophy set to begin on February 19, 2025. Before that, India will play a series of five T20Is and three ODIs against England at home, starting on January 22. This series offers the team an opportunity to regroup and refocus ahead of the prestigious tournament.
Selection Committee Faces Crucial Decisions
The immediate focus, however, will be on the selection process for the Champions Trophy, with the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee expected to announce India’s 15-man provisional squad by January 12. This deadline is set by the ICC, although teams will be allowed to make changes until February 13, said an ICC official to the Times of India.
According to an ICC official, all teams must submit their provisional squads by January 12, but they have the flexibility to make changes until February 13. The official also confirmed that ICC will only release the squads on February 13.
Leadership Conundrum: Bumrah Likely to Be Vice-Captain
In terms of leadership, Jasprit Bumrah, who is recovering from fitness concerns following the demanding Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia, is expected to be named Rohit Sharma’s deputy for the Champions Trophy, according to the TOI report. This means that both Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul, who had served as India’s vice-captains during the 2023 ODI World Cup, will likely be overlooked for the role.
The selection committee’s decision is poised to be a tough one, with Hardik initially being named vice-captain before Rahul took over after Hardik’s ankle injury. As the squad announcement approaches, the selectors are also dealing with the challenge of choosing between numerous contenders, with fringe players putting up impressive performances in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy.