BCCI Likely to Delay Announcement of India’s Champions Trophy 2025 Squad
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to delay the announcement of the ODI squad for the three-match home series against England, originally anticipated by January 12. The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee, tasked with finalizing the provisional squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, may request an extension from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to finalize its selection. Meanwhile, the T20I squad for the upcoming five-match series against England is likely to be revealed in the next couple of days.
Champions Trophy Submission Deadline
The ICC typically mandates provisional squad submissions one month before global events, but this year, the deadline was advanced to five weeks before the tournament’s start. The Champions Trophy, scheduled to begin on February 19 in Pakistan and the UAE, has prompted the BCCI to seek additional time due to recent commitments, including the Test series in Australia. The revised announcement date for the provisional ODI squad is expected around January 18-19.
Updates on T20 and ODI Squads
The T20I squad announcement is expected soon and will likely retain players from recent series against Bangladesh and South Africa. Key pacers like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are not expected to feature, given their continued absence from recent fixtures. Arshdeep Singh will lead the bowling attack in the T20Is, with a possibility of inclusion in the ODI squad as well.
A significant development is the anticipated return of Mohammed Shami to the ODI squad. Shami, who last played for India in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, has been recovering and recently participated in domestic cricket for Bengal in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He is either cleared by the BCCI's Sports Science wing or on the verge of receiving clearance. While his participation in the T20I series remains uncertain, his inclusion in the ODI squad and Champions Trophy is highly likely.
Young Talent and All-Rounders in Focus
Emerging player Nitish Kumar Reddy is expected to retain his place in the T20I squad but is unlikely to be included in the ODIs. Washington Sundar is poised for a spot in the ODI lineup, reflecting the selectors' confidence in his all-format potential. Similarly, Yashasvi Jaiswal is a strong contender for the ODI team.
England Series Schedule
India's series against England begins with five T20Is, followed by three ODIs scheduled for February 6, 9, and 12. These matches will serve as crucial preparation for the Champions Trophy as India fine-tunes its lineup for the marquee event.
