Rohit to be charge of 15 member team, Shubman Gill nominated vice-captain

The Men’s Selection Committee led by Ajit Agarkar on Saturday have picked India’s 15-member provisional identical squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and the England ODI series scheduled to be held next month. Rohit Sharma will once again lead the Indian team, with Shubman Gill as his deputy. The same was based on Head coach Gautam Gambhir inputs following his discussion with Rohit and the selection committee on Friday evening

The only difference will be pacer Harshit Rana who comes into the set-up as back-up for Jasprit Bumrah  who recently suffered stress-related injury during the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and may not be ready for the first two matches of the bilateral series.

Southpaw Yashasvi Jaiswal who has been in great knick with the bat at the top in T20I and  Test Matches  too has been selected for the first time in ODIs and is likely to be the reserve opener for the Champions Trophy.

Experienced campaigners Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul who were part of the ICC 2023 ODI World Cup squad that made it to the final too retained their spots, along with all-rounders Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. Washington Sundar will be the fourth all-rounder in the squad, which includes only four specialist bowlers.

Rishabh Pant was preferred as the second wicket-keeper over Sanju Samson whose decision not to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy cost him the place in the squad. Pacer Mohammed Siraj too has been left out following Mohammed Shami inclusion following successful recovery from injury along with spinner Kuldeep Yadav.

While left -arm quick Arshdeep Singh earned a spot in the squad after finishing as the highest wicket-taker in the Vijay Hazare Trophy,  the leading run scorer in the tournament Karun Nair was overlooked.

Host India will play three bilateral ODIs against England on 6, 9 and 12 February - their first 50-over games since the tour of Sri Lanka in August last year as part of their preparation before the Champions Trophy slated to commence from 19 February in Pakistan and UAE . 

India are placed in Group A in the Champions Trophy and begin their campaign against Bangladesh on 20 February, followed by one against reigning champions Pakistan on 23 February, and New Zealand on 2 March in their quest for a third title. India play all their matches in Dubai because the Union Government refused to let the team travel to Pakistan due to security concerns.

India squad for  Champions Trophy:

Batters: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer

Wicket-keepers: KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant

All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar

Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav

Photo Above: Under fire Indian captain Rohit Sharma addressing the media personnel in presence Men’s Selection Committee Chairman Ajit Agarkar  at BCCI Headquarters in Mumbai on Saturday