What was eagerly awaited finally came to an end yesterday. The Indian squad for the Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan and UAE has been announced. Instead of 12:30 pm, captain Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar attended a press conference at 3 pm and announced the team. There were only two things shocking about this Champions Trophy squad; First, Gillan was made vice-captain even though Bumrah was still in the team. Second, Siraj dropped.
As soon as the Champions Trophy squad is declared, India will be eyeing yet another ICC trophy. Mohammed Shami has returned to Team India almost every year. So 4 all-rounders have been included in the 15-member team. Among them are pace all-rounders Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Akshar Patel and Washington Sundar. While Bumrah, Hardik along with Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Shami will handle the pace attack. So let's see how the 15 members have performed in ODIs…
Know first India's squad for the Champions Trophy
Now let's know how the 15 players selected in the team have performed in ODIs…
1. Captain Rohit Sharma Team India captain Rohit Sharma is currently going through a very tough time. His continued miserable form led to talk of retirement from Tests. However, he later revealed in an interview that he was not going to retire and dropped himself in the fifth Test against Australia.
However, Rohit's white ball numbers are strong. He also has three double centuries in the 50 over format. So in the last ODI World Cup, his stormy batting gave the Indian team a great start. He scored 597 runs at an average of 54.27 in 11 matches in the World Cup.
Then captain Rohit Sharma will be expected to play big innings in addition to similar innings.
2. Shubman Gill (Vice Captain) Team India's young opener Shubman Gill has been made Rohit's deputy by the selectors. He has got a big responsibility. Despite being in Jasprit Bumrah's team, Gill has been made the vice-captain. Gill has also come under criticism for his poor batting. But if we go to see his performance in white ball, he has scored 2328 runs at an average of 58. In which he batted a blistering 208 runs against New Zealand in 2023.
3. Virat Kohli Kohli, who is known as the king of cricket, prefers this format. He has also broken the record of most centuries in ODIs held by the god of cricket, Sachin Tendulkar. In the last ODI World Cup, he scored his 50th century against New Zealand in the semi-final. ODI is the best format for Virat. He scored 765 runs at an amazing average of 95.62 in the World Cup. Which includes 6 fifties and 3 centuries.
In white ball he is also called Chase Master. He has played several innings in which India have turned the game around and chased the target from a position where they were not in a position to chase. He will bat at number-3 in the team.
4. Shreyas Iyer The batting line-up has become more stable with the arrival of Shreyas Iyer, the backbone of Team India in ODI cricket. He silenced the critics by performing consistently well at number-4 in the World Cup. He scored 530 runs at an average of 66.25 in the World Cup. He will bat at number-4 in the Champions Trophy, that is certain.
5. KL Rahul KL Rahul has been selected as a wicketkeeper batsman. He can be a part of the playing-11 despite being a Pant. Rahul also performed strongly in the last World Cup. Along with batting, he also made many catches with gloves. His overall performance in the recently concluded series against Australia was good. However, he bats very well in white ball cricket, especially in the 50 over game.
6. Hardik Pandya The arrival of pace all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who bowled the final over in the final of the T20 World Cup to make India champions, has strengthened the team in batting. He has got the role of a finisher. Also, he can play an anchoring role if required. Moreover, as a pace all-rounder, he will play as the third fast bowler in the playing-11.
7. Ravindra Jadeja As soon as Team India selects star all-rounder Jadeja for the Champions Trophy, all the rumors have been put to rest. Meanwhile, there were reports that Jaddu's career in white ball cricket would end. Because reports said that Jadeja will not be included in the Champions Trophy squad. So now today all the rumors about his name have come to a complete stop.
Ravindra Jadeja also gave a strong performance in the World Cup. He took 16 wickets in 11 matches. Also he scored some usage runs too. So everyone knows about his fielding. Jaddu's bowling will come in handy as the match is to be played in UAE.
8. Akshar Patel Another left-arm spin all-rounder from Gujarat, Akshar Patel, has also been named in the Champions Trophy squad. Akshar's performance in the T20 World Cup played in 2024 was excellent. It is not at all wrong to say that India won because of his all-round performance. He excelled in all three departments, batting, bowling and fielding. So now he can also be included in the playing-11 along with Jadeja.
9. Kuldeep Yadav Kuldeep Yadav, the team's only Chinaman bowler, is currently returning from injury. He did not play in the Australia tour due to injury. Now his name can play as the third spinner coming into the Champions Trophy. He performed brilliantly in the last World Cup.
10. Jasprit Bumrah Hearing the name of the fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who is the backbone of the Indian team, everyone is surprised. He could not come to bowl in the second innings in the Sydney Test against Australia. He complained of back pain. After this there were reports that he might not play in the Champions Trophy. However, as soon as he was selected in the team today, the bowling line-up of the Indian team has been strengthened.
However, there are still doubts about his fitness. Because Agarkar said in the press conference that 'We are waiting for Jasprit Bumrah's fitness report.' His condition will be informed by the BCCI medical team in early February.
11. Mohammad Shami Team India's star pacer, whose comeback was awaited, Shami has also been included in the squad. Mohammad Shami, who played his last international match almost a quarter of a year ago, got a chance to make a comeback from the T20 series against England. He will get a good practice ahead of the Champions Trophy.
12. Yashaswi Jaiswal For Jaiswal, it is said that the 50 over format is his best format. Meaning Yashaswi performs brilliantly in it. He has only made his debut in T20s and Tests. This is the first time he has got an opportunity in ODIs. His tremendous performance in the last one year has paid off.
Jaiswal has also scored a double century in List-A cricket. His consistent good performances have earned him a chance in the Champions Trophy.
13. Rishabh Pant Rishabh Pant, who was selected as the second wicketkeeper in the Indian team, has had a good white ball career. The kind of performance that he does in the red ball is not seen so much in the white ball. However, he could prove to be the X factor in this tournament. He can keep the scoreboard rolling by driving the team. This is why he has been included in the team.
14. Arshdeep Singh The young pacer Arshdeep Singh has been included in the team due to his bowling performance in the T20 World Cup, which has always been a heavy hit for Team India. Arshdeep has played 8 matches so far. In which 12 wickets have been taken at an average of 5.05. He has played more T20 matches.
“Right now we are not sure about Bumrah, so we have picked Arshdeep Singh so that he can play his role if needed,” Agarkar told a press conference.
15. Washington Beautiful The fourth all-rounder of the Indian team is Washington Sundar. He has so far taken 23 wickets for India in 22 matches at an economy rate of 4.70. With Jadeja, Pandya and Akshar in the squad, it is difficult for him to play in the playing XI. But looking at his current form, the Indian management may spring a surprise.
Image Credit: Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).