Rohit is set to lead the Indian side in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and UAE, in what would be his fifth ICC event as a captain. Agarkar announced the 15-man squad for the quadrangular event at the start of the press conference with a few notable names missing out. Sanju Samson, who smashed a century against South Africa in the ODIs have been skipped with Rishabh Pant being the primary wicketkeeper along with KL Rahul.
The top seven is the same as that of the front-line XI in the ODI World Cup 2023 with Yashasvi Jaiswal as the additional member. Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Hardik Pandya are the all-rounders in the squad.
Kuldeep Yadav rounds up the spin department while the three pacers are Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, and Arshdeep Singh. It is worth noting that Mohammed Siraj has been excluded after his below-par outing in 2024 while Shami makes a return to the side, having last played for the national side in the World Cup 2023.
Bumrah, who sustained an injury during the fifth Test against Australia is under rehabilitation and might miss the upcoming ODI series against England. In his absence, Harshit Rana has been selected for the three-match fifty-over series.
India are to play only three ODIs and five T20Is against England as a preparatory measure for the upcoming Champions Trophy in Pakistan and UAE.
India are sandwiched in an interesting Group A with arch-rivals Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh. They haven’t had a good time facing the Kiwis in ICC tournaments of late except for the 2023 World Cup. In addition, the conditions of the UAE are likely to suit the Bangladesh spinners as well. Their first assignment will be against neighbours, Bangladesh on February 20 followed by the clash of the rivals against Pakistan on February 23. They will face New Zealand on March 2.
India’s Champions Trophy squad: Rohit Sharma ©, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill (vc), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep
India’s ODI squad for England: Rohit Sharma ©, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammad Shami, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill (vc), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh
