India’s squad for 2025 Champions Trophy likely to be announced past deadline: Reports

Team India's provisional squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy is unlikely to be announced by the January 12 deadline set by the International Cricket Council (ICC). According to Cricbuzz, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will likely request an extension.

However, the delay, largely due to Team India's prolonged tour of Australia (BGT 2024-25), will unlikely impact the squad announcement for the upcoming five-match T20I series against England at home. The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee will reportedly reveal the same in the coming days, with the series set to commence from January 22 onwards.

The BCCI, who have much to consider regarding the limited-overs squad after a heavy red-ball season, are expected to name the squad a week after the deadline set by the ICC.

"The BCCI, citing recent commitments in Australia for the Test series, is expected to request for more time. It is likely that the provisional Champions Trophy squad, which will predominantly feature players from the three home ODIs against England, will be announced about a week later, around January 18-19. The Champions Trophy starts in Pakistan-UAE on February 19," the report said.

Team India have been drawn into Group A of the 2025 Champions Trophy, alongside Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand. The Men in Blue will play all of their matches in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) according to the hybrid model, including the knockouts, provided they qualify for it.

Mohammed Shami could return to Team India ahead of 2025 Champions Trophy

The T20I squad, led by Suryakumar Yadav, is likely to feature the same contingent that played the bilateral affairs against Bangladesh and South Africa in late 2024.

As far as the ODI squad is concerned, there is a strong chance that the likes of Arshdeep Singh, Washington Sundar, and Yashasvi Jaiswal will be in the mix. Mohammed Shami, who missed out on the Border-Gavaskar series, is inching closer to a return to the international circuit.

"It is understood that Shami has either got the clearance from the Sports Science wing of the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru or is expected to get it," the Cricbuzz report added.

The right-arm pacer has been toiling hard in domestic cricket across formats since November 2024. He last played for Team India during the 2023 ODI World Cup final against Australia in Ahmedabad.