The Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) in India is ready to announce the team for India’s upcoming preparations for England’s visit to India, followed by the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan and the UAE.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who have not been in great form lately, will still be the main players in India’s ODI team. However, three senior players might face questions about their future in the 50-over format when the selectors meet this Saturday, 11th January to choose the squad for the Champions Trophy.
India will play all their matches in the Champions Trophy in Dubai, starting with their game against Bangladesh on February 20. This decision was made after India chose not to go to Pakistan, the original host, due to safety concerns. The ICC has announced that the deadline for all teams to reveal their initial squads for the tournament is January 12. However, teams can make updates to this squad until February 13.
The option to make changes until February 13 will be helpful for the selectors since they can evaluate how players perform in the matches against England. The selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, will have the chance to make any final adjustments if needed. This extra time will allow them to check Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness. The star bowler missed most of the Sydney Test last week due to back spasms.
“Most likely, this time he felt a tightness in the upper back. The reports have gone to his surgeon, we should have the final results very soon. My hunch is he will be part of the first squad that will be announced for CT. After all, you can have an injury replacement later,” The Times of India quoted a former India pacer as saying on Wednesday.
It will not only be Jasprit Bumrah, but all attention will also be on Mohammed Shami. The Indian pacer has been missing from the national team since the 2023 ODI World Cup final because of an injury.
He returned in November last year and has been playing domestic cricket for Bengal regularly. There were rumors that he might be sent to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but the BCCI decided he wasn’t fit for the Tests in Australia. It’s still unclear if Shami will be included in the England series before the Champions Trophy.
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Jasir Basharat is a cricket enthusiast capturing the heart of the game through insightful analysis and storytelling sharing his passion for the sport through engaging narratives. He is a business graduate from University of Kashmir.
