India squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is the next biggest international campaign for the Indian Team after winning the recent T20 World Cup. ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to be played in Pakistan in February-March next year.

ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will witness a battle between 8 teams. The top-ranked ODI teams in the ICC rankings compete in the tournament.

India, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Afghanistan, England, and Bangladesh are the 8 teams who are going to play in the tournament. Pakistan, the hosts of the tournament, are also the defending champions who won the trophy in the previous edition in 2017.

Rohit Sharma will lead India in the tournament as he has parted ways with the T20I side and will now focus on ODIs and Tests.

Many key members are expected to be part of the tournament. In this article, we glance at India's predicted squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2024.

India squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Openers- Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are among the best set of openers in ODIs and should be part of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 too. They did a wonderful job as openers in the ODI World Cup last year and gave a brilliant performance.

Since the start of 2023, Gill has been the leading run-getter for his team with 1584 runs averaging 63+. He has also slammed 5 centuries and 9 half-centuries. Rohit Sharma owns an average of 52+ and 1255 runs during the same period. Sharma will also lead the side.

Also Read: Watch: 'GOAT' Rohit Sharma eats Barbados pitch soil as he imitates Novak Djokovic's famous act

Middle-order batters- Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rinku Singh

For the middle-order, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer will be crucial batters. Kohli has retired from T20Is after winning the recent T20I World Cup.

Hence, his focus will be shifted to longer formats. Since 2023, he has been the second-highest run-getter in ODIs (1377 runs) at 72.47 average.

Shreyas Iyer is known for his patient batting and he will be a crucial member in the middle. Iyer also led Kolkata Knight Riders to IPL 2024 title as skipper.

Rinku Singh might be another member after his good show in 2 ODIs against South Africa earlier this year.

Wicketkeepers- Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan

Rishabh Pant is back in the team and he might be one of the wicketkeepers in ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The other two wicketkeepers are KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan.

Since 2023, KL Rahul has mustered 1000+ runs in 27 ODIs at 66.25 average. This includes 2 tons and 7 half-centuries. Ishan Kishan has an average of 35.07 with 456 runs in 15 innings and 4 fifties. Notably, Kishan can also bat as an opener and this makes a powerful addition.

Also Read: Watch: Jay Shah's prophecy fulfilled as Rohit Sharma plants Indian flag in Barbados after T20 World Cup triumph

All-Rounders- Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel

For all-rounders, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel will be the best set of players. The trio did a decent job in the recent T20 World Cup to get the title for India.

Pandya is a prominent member being a seam all-rounder. Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel will be helpful in Pakistan, which has spin-friendly stadiums.

Also, both left-armers are powerful batters in the lower order. With them in their squad, the Men in Blue will have a powerful set of finishers.

Spinners- Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav is the best spinner for the Men in Blue in ODIs at the moment. Since 2023, the left-arm spinner has captured 49 wickets in 30 games at an average of 20.48 and an economy of just 4.61.

The chinaman bowler is also the leading wicket-taker for India since 2023 in ODIs and has given a consistent show.

Since the team already has two spin all-rounders like Jadeja and Axar, they might not keep more spinners in the main squad.

Pacers- Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj

Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj form the best combination for pace attack. Bumrah and Shami are a magnificent pair who have always dominated opponents, something that was quite evident in the ODI World Cup last year.

Siraj has also proved his expertise in 50-over cricket by snatching the No.1 ODI bowler tag at the start of 2023. He is also the second-highest wicket-taker for India since 2023.

Reserves- Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Shardul Thakur

Since India will play the Champions Trophy outside home, they will need reserve players.

Pacers are more likely to get an injury and selectors will be ready with replacements for the same. Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, and Shardul Thakur will be good choices for replacement in the pace department.