ICC Champions Trophy 2025: BCCI Announces India’s Squad, Mohammed Shami Returns

On Saturday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 15-member squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Rohit Sharma will lead the Indian side while Shubman Gill has been named his deputy.

The much-awaited Champions Trophy is making its return after eight long years and will be played in a hybrid model with India playing their matches in Dubai while the remaining games will be taking place in three venues in Pakistan. The Indian team will start their campaign against Bangladesh on February 20, followed by group games against Pakistan and New Zealand in the eight-team tournament.

“Only Siraj is not there (among experienced players); we are not sure of Bumrah and so we picked a squad where we had options of players who can bowl up front and at the back end. If Bumrah is not there we wanted Arshdeep to do it. That is where we felt Siraj's effectiveness comes down when he is not taking the new ball. It is unfortunate he is missing out but we had to get guys who can perform a certain rule. I feel we have players who can bowl with new ball, bowl in the middle and at the end,” said Rohit Sharma.

Despite wreaking havoc in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, veteran batter Karun Nair has not been added to the Indian side. Nair who is playing for has smashed 752 runs so far in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar Lauded Karun Nair for his outstanding batting but stated it is difficult to “fit in everyone in the team.”

“Averaging 750+ is simply insane, but it's a squad of 15, so we can't fit everyone,” said Agarkar.

India's squad for 2025 Champions Trophy: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja.