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As India's action-packed Test season draws to a close with the World Test Championship (WTC) final qualification hanging in the balance, half an eye of the fans must also be on the 2025 Champions Trophy. The eight-team tournament, popularly referred to as the Mini World Cup, is back for the first time since 2017, starting on February 19.
Despite the excitement surrounding its return, the scheduling fiasco between India and Pakistan took away a lot of the sheen from the Champions Trophy. Finally, all the concerned parties agreed on India playing their games in Dubai to ensure the tournament happens without any hurdles.
The Men in Blue will remember the heartbreaking defeat at the hands of their arch-rivals in the final of the last Champions Trophy edition in 2017. Despite boasting arguably the best ODI team over the past decade, India have come up short of ultimate glory in ICC events, finishing runner-up in the 2023 World Cup and semi-finalists in the 2015 and 2019 World Cups.
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Rohit Sharma's men have not played ODIs as much since the 2023 World Cup at home, with the Sri Lanka series being the only one this year.
Despite the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy throwing several names for ODI selection, India will likely go with a tried and tested squad for the all-important 2025 Champions Trophy. Yet, even that has several options, resulting in a few difficult exclusions.
On that note, here is a prediction of India's 15-member squad for the marquee event, starting with a few fringe players that barely missed the cut.
Near-misses: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Ravindra Jadeja, and Tilak Varma.
Specialist batters: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli & Shreyas Iyer
Skipper Rohit Sharma is an obvious choice as one of the opening batters with the talented Shubman Gill partnering with him at the top. While the duo may be struggling for runs in the Test format, they remain arguably the best ODI opening combination in world cricket.
Rohit was the lone Indian batter to shine in their last ODI series in Sri Lanka, averaging over 52 at a strike rate of 141.44. The 37-year-old has averaged over 50 at a strike rate of over 115 in ODIs in each of the previous two years.
Meanwhile, Gill has been the ideal foil for Rohit's all-out attack, averaging over 58 in his ODI career. Despite struggling in the three ODIs against Sri Lanka this year, the 25-year-old enjoyed one of the greatest ODI seasons of all time in 2023. He has scored over 1,500 runs at an average of 63.36 and a strike rate of 105.45.
There are no questions about the next name on the list with Virat Kohli once again expected to anchor the Indian batting lineup at No.3. Already third all-time in ODI runs, the 36-year-old is inching closer to the 14,000-run mark with a career average of over 58.
The champion batter was the Player of the Tournament in India's 2023 ODI World Cup final run, becoming the all-time leader in ODI centuries with 50 in the semi-final against New Zealand.
While several things have gone south for Shreyas Iyer this year, his place in the ODI squad should be unquestioned. Despite being one of the several Indian batters to struggle recently in Sri Lanka, Iyer has averaged over 50 in ODIs in each of the last two seasons in 2022 and 2023 (37 matches).
Wicket-keeping options: KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant & Sanju Samson
Team India are among the few teams blessed with three wicketkeeping options, each of whom can also walk into the playing XI as specialist batters. In KL Rahul, India boasts of someone who can do it all - open the batting, bat in the middle order, and keep wickets.
The 32-year-old was all over the place in the two ODIs he played against Sri Lanka this year. Yet, Rahul was among the most consistent batters in 2023, averaging over 66 in 27 ODIs, including a stellar showing in the home World Cup.
The return of Rishabh Pant after missing the entire last year due to injury makes him an automatic choice in the squad, considering he was the first option as wicketkeeper in the T20 World Cup earlier this year. While he has played only the lone ODI against Sri Lanka this year, it would be surprising if his wicketkeeping skills don't earn him a spot in the Indian squad for the Champions Trophy.
It is now or never for the Indian management to reward Sanju Samson for his dominance in ODI cricket. With an overall ODI average of 56.66 at a strike rate of almost 100, the 30-year-old is at the peak of his powers.
Samson's new-found mojo as India's T20I opener in recent months could be vital should the side need a backup opening option. Like Rahul, Samson has the rare ability to bat anywhere in the lineup and keep wickets.
All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar & Axar Patel
Hardik Pandya may have not played an ODI since the injury mid-way through the 2023 World Cup, yet, his return to the squad should be automatic. Beyond the batting and bowling numbers, Hardik lends an incredible balance to the playing XI, allowing the bowling line-up to be spin-dominant for certain conditions.
Renowned for being a clutch performer, the 31-year-old was instrumental in India's title-winning run in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Washington Sundar and Axar Patel will likely pip Ravindra Jadeja and Riyan Parag as India's spin-bowling all-rounders. Sundar has been in outstanding form across formats for India, including picking up five wickets at an average of 21 and an economy of 3.88 in their latest ODI series against Sri Lanka.
Axar has been equally effective for India in all formats over the past year, averaging 28 and 26.33 with ball and bat in the most recent Sri Lanka ODIs.
Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah & Arshdeep Singh
While Sundar and Axar control the runs in the middle overs, Kuldeep Yadav will be India's wicket-taking option among spinners. The 30-year-old had a season to remember in 2023, picking up 49 wickets in 30 ODI games at an average of 20.48 and an economy of 4.61.
He was impressive in India's lone ODI series this year against Sri Lanka, averaging 25.50 at an economy of 3.40.
Mohammed Shami has been hard done by injuries since the 2023 ODI World Cup, where he finished as the leading wicket-taker with 24 scalps in seven matches. Despite the lack of game time, Shami should be an easy selection with his inimitable match-winning abilities.
Mohammed Siraj has established himself as India's third-best all-format seam-bowler over the past couple of years. Despite a rough series in Sri Lanka, Siraj had an outstanding 2023, where he picked up 44 wickets in 25 ODIs at an average of 20.68 with several match-winning new-ball spells.
Does anything even need to be mentioned for Jasprit Bumrah's selection to the Indian squad? The 31-year-old has been in awe-inspiring form since his return from injury in the middle of last year.
With an impeccable ODI average of 23.55 and the uncanny ability to bowl at any and every stage of an innings, India's chances of winning the Champions Trophy will hinge largely on Bumrah's bowling exploits. The champion pacer was the Player of the Tournament in India's 2024 T20 World Cup triumph and a repeat performance cannot be discounted.
Perhaps the lone left-field choice in the 15-member squad could be that of left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh. The 25-year-old has played only eight ODI games but averages an impressive 24.08 with 12 wickets.
He picked up 10 wickets in the three ODIs in South Africa after the World Cup last year and was the leading wicket-taker in India's 2024 T20 World Cup victory. Arshdeep's sensational bowling form in addition to the variety his left-arm angle brings in the powerplay and at the death should earn him a spot in the Indian Champions Trophy squad.
India's 15-member squad for 2025 Champions Trophy
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Sanju Samson, and Arshdeep Singh.
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