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He ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to begin on February 19, with Pakistan and Dubai as co-host of the tournament. India, however, will play all its matches in the UAE, starting with its opening clash against Bangladesh on February 20. Amid speculation and excitement surrounding the announcement of India’s official team, renowned cricket analyst Harsha Bhogle shared his picks for the main event on his YouTube channel, making waves with a surprising decision.
Harsha Bhogle’s bold call to Jasprit Bumrah
In an unexpected decision, Bhogle has opted to exclude ace pacer jasprit bumrah of his team, citing ongoing concerns about his fitness. Bumrah recently suffered an injury during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 and remains in doubt for the next Champions Trophy.
“Let me summarize my assumptions and my starting point. I will assume that two of India’s top bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna, might not be available due to injuries. If they are fit, fantastic.” Bhogle explained.
Bhogle predicts India’s squad for Champions Trophy 2025
Batting line-up: opener and middle order
Seen Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill as the main opening pair, with a solid partnership of over 70 runs in at least 25 innings together. Furthermore, he highlighted the potential of Yashasvi Jaiswala left-handed option that could prove useful in conditions that favor slower bowling.
In the middle order, Harsha chose Virat Kohli without a doubt, as he remains a crucial figure with his consistency and class. Along with Kohli, Shreyas Iyer makes the cut thanks to his strong performances during the 2023 World Cup and his impressive domestic form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. With these two batsmen, Harsha convinced India to have a reliable core of five in the batting line-up, with flexibility to adapt according to match situations.
Ground maintenance options and amultipurpose
Harsha believed that India is lucky to have two capable wicketkeepers who can also contribute with the bat. he chose KL Rahul as their main wicketkeeper, provided he remains fit and available, given Rahul’s proven impact in ODIs. Along with Rahul, he mentioned rishabh pants, who has shown great form in domestic cricket and provides valuable runs in the middle order.
Hardik Pandya Harsha identifies him as the backbone of the Indian ODI team. His ability to consistently bowl six to seven overs provides crucial balance to the team. Harsha believed that Pandya is in excellent form, both in T20Is and the Vijay Hazare Trophy, making him indispensable at the number six spot.
Also READ: Sunil Gavaskar and Irfan Pathan reveal their India team for Champions Trophy 2025
Bowling options and spinning department.
Harsha opted for a balanced bowling attack – three seamers and three spinners. For the seam attack, Mohamed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh are your choices, assuming jasprit bumrah will not be available. Harsha sees Siraj and Arshdeep as bowlers who have already proven themselves in white-ball cricket, while Shami brings invaluable control and experience to the attack.
In the spinning department, Harsha opted for three-finger spinners. – Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. He mentioned that these spinners tend to perform well in UAE conditions and their batting ability further strengthens their place in the team.
15th place decision and substitute players: Bhogle’s choice
15th place was a tough decision for Harsha. After much deliberation, he selected Varun Chakraborty as the last player on the team. Chakravarthy has a proven track record as a match-winner in ODIs, and his variations could be crucial in UAE conditions. To provide depth and flexibility, Harsha identified four reserve players: Ravi Bishnoi, Nitin Kumar Reddy as an additional finisher, Umran Malik as a backup pacemaker, and Karun Nair as a backup hitter. These players offer valuable options and can intervene at short notice if necessary.
