Days before India’s first match in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, bowling coach Morne Morkel has left the camp in Dubai and headed back to his home. According to reports, Morkel has returned home after the demise of his father Albert. Morkel did not join the team’s practice session on February 17. It is not clear whether Morkel will join Team India during the tournament.
In the practice session, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant looked uncomfortable after he was hit on the knee by a delivery from Hardik Pandya. The team physio rushed to Pant while he was lying on the ground. Later, he was seen limping off the field. Pant did not play a single ODI in the home series against England. Therefore, KL Rahul is India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter.
India are scheduled to play their first group match against the Nazmul Hossain Shanto-led Bangladesh on February 20 at the Dubai Cricket International Stadium. India’s second Group A match is against co-hosts and Mohammad Rizwan-led Pakistan on February 23. After this, India are scheduled to take on Mitchell Santner’s New Zealand on March 2.
India’s fast bowling attack
The squad has three specialist pacers. After Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out due to a lower back injury, a young Harshit Rana was given the opportunity to play his first white-ball ICC event. Veteran pacer Mohammed Shami is back after injury while Arshdeep Singh has also found a place in the squad. Hardik Pandya is another fast-bowling option that India has in this tournament.
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India’s spin bowling attack
India have fielded a spin-heavy squad in Dubai conditions. After naming spin-bowling allrounders Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja and specialist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, the selectors included in-form mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy in place of young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. Indian team management and coaching staff has shown lot of confidence on spinners.
India’s Squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja.
India’s Probable Playing 11 against Bangladesh for ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh.