Champions Trophy squad announcement highlights: India name squad, Rohit reacts to BCCI rules

Champions Trophy Squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Raahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah (subject to fitness), Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep SIngh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (wk) and Ravindra Jadeja. 

Squad for England ODIs: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Raahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah (subject to fitness) Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep SIngh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana. 

Rohit was told that results haven't gone India's way in the last six months. But, he made it clear that it was only for the last three months that India went on a losing spree. 

Addressing the question about equation with coach Gautam Gambhir, Rohit had to say this. 

When asked if there was any differences in terms of tactics between him and coach Gautam Gambhir, Rohit said: "Both of us are very clear on what we wanted to do. I am not going to sit here and discuss what goes behind the scenes, every game tactically. But, it's very clear in my mind. But Gautam Gambhir is pretty... once we enter the field, he trusts what the captain is doing on the field. The basic talk that happens are only off the field. In the ground or may be in the changing room, once we take the field, it's all about what I do on the field. That's the kind of trust we have in each other. That's how it should be. That's about it."

Mohammed Shami hasn't played an international match since the ODI World Cup in 2023. He was picked for the T20I series against England, starting January 22. 

However, India have kept faith in him and picked him in the 15-man squad for the Champions Trophy.

When asked if India are taking a risk by picking Shami without much match practice in the 50-over format, Agarkar said; "I don't think his fitness was anything to do with white-ball cricket anyway. We were trying to get him to Australia. Unfortunately, his knee didn't allow him to play four-day or five-day cricket.

"With regards to white-ball, I think he has played most of the Syed Mushtaq Ali games and some of the Vijay Hazare games. With uncertainty around Jassi as well, if he (Shami) is fit and playing regularly, the quality and the experience that he brings is invaluable. 

"To get him involved in T20is is precisely because of that. To get him back into international cricket and play under pressure. Even though it's T20I cricket, it will be high-intensity. 

"He has got quality. If he was fit, he was always going to be part of the discussion. We are hoping he comes through these games and by the time the Champions Trophy comes, he is 100 percent."

"We are just hoping Bumrah will be fit. We will have a chat if he is not fit," says Ajit Agarkar when talking about the need for backups. 

Keep in mind, India have not named a back-up for the Champions Trophy.

Harshit Rana has been picked as Jasprit Bumrah's cover for the ODI series against England, staritng February 6. 

Agarkar confirmed Bumrah will not be available for the first two ODis. 

"Who has told you about these rules? Has it come from the official handle? Let it come and we will talk," Rohit Sharma said, snapping at a reporter at the press conference. 

When chief selector Ajit Agarkar can answer it, why can't captain Rohit? 

"We are not sure about Bumrah, whether he was going to play or not. So, we thought we wanted someone who can bowl with the new ball and at the backend. So we picked Arshdeep to bowl at the backend. Shami, we all saw what he can do with the new ball.

"Siraj, his effectiveness comes down when he is not bowling with the new ball. 

"It's an unfortunate thing that he has to miss out. But, we had no option get the guys who can perform a certain role. I personally feel we have guys who can bowl with the new ball, bowl in the middle and bowl at the backend. 

"WIth these three bowlers, we think we can do that. 

"Arshdeep hasn't played a lot of ODIs, but he has been in the white-ball set-up for a long time. I don't think I feel comfortable saying he is not experienced. He has played T20Is, bowled under pressure. 

"Shami is a stalwart in white-ball cricket. 

"Harshit, we needed something different. He has shown he has got the potential. So, we need to back him.

"But, look at Jaiswal, we picked him based on what he has done in the last 6-8 months.He has not played ODis, but we picked him. But, he has shown potential. Sometimes, we need to do that. 

"If we talk about everyone, we can't please everyone. Yes, it's a tough call, but we needed to take it."

"I think every team has some rules in place. We have spoken about various things. We have seen in the last few months the need for some changes, more bonding in the team," Agarkar said, responding to the 10-point BCCI guidelines for national men's team players. 

"It's not a school, it's not a punishment. We have some rules and when you are playing for the national team, you following the rules. These are not school kids. These are superstars. They know how to handle themselves," he added. 

"But, at the end of the day, you play for your country. So yu need to follow some rules." 

"There were a lot of rules that were in place. You keep on refining it," he added. 

"There was a long Australian tour. Five Tests in India before that. Some of those guys who played in those series were not picked. T20 World Cup is still a little while away. But, once the Champions Trophy is done, we might have start planning more to figure out our 18-20," Ajit Agarkar said when he was asked about the compositiion of the T20I series and the resting of a few players. 

No Mohammed Siraj in India squad, but Arshdeep Singh gets the nod ahead of him.

Washington Sundar also gets a place in the 15 along with Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel.

Meanwhile, Shubman Gill has been named vice-captain. 

The BCCI made it mandatory for players to feature in domestic cricket when they are available to get picked for the national team. In its strict 10-point guidelines, BCCI put primary focus on domestic cricket. 

When Rohit Sharma was asked about it, the captain said nobody is taking domestic cricket for granted. 

"In the last 6-7 years, if you look at it, there has not been a time where we were sitting at home for 45 days. And there is cricket going on. You do get that time when you finish IPL and then there is nothing happening right after that. But, if you see our domestic season, it starts in October, may be September, and it gets over in February-March. And that is the time when India plays a lot of cricket (international). 

"Guys who have not played certain formats and got time, there is domestic cricket happening, then they will play.

"But, in the last 6-7 years, I can at least tell about what has happened with me. Since I have started playing Test cricket regularly, which is from 2019, you hardly have any time. 

"And then when you play so much international cricket through the year, you need some time off as well. As a cricket, we need that time to refresh, get our mind ready for the upcoming season.

"But, we have addressed it. 

"Nobody takes it for granted. It's just based on looking at how one has gone through the season and how much rest he needs. Based on all of that, we decide how we manage players," Rohit said. 

Ajit Agarkar said it's difficult to fit Karun Nair in the current squad. However, he lauded the Vidarbha captain for a fantastic season in Vijay Hazare Trophy. 

"Yeah, it was tough. Those are really special performances. Someone who averages 700-plus. We did have a chat," said Agarkar.

"At the moment, finding a spot in the squad in this team is really difficult. Look at the guys who have been picked. All average well in excess of mid-40s. Unfortunately, you can't fit everyone in a squad of 15. But those performances certainly make you take notice. If there is a loss of form (for a player) or injuries, there's certainly going to be a conversation around him," he added.

Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Raahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar PAtel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep SIngh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja. 

Fitness concerns about Jasprit Bumrah. Harshit Rana will be part of the ODI squad for England series. Bumrah won't be fit for first two matches. (FULL SQUAD HERE)

Well, it's been 2 hours and 15 minutes of wait since the scheduled start time. The meeting is over, the press conference is about to start, reports Nikhil Naz from Mumbai.

We will learn the composition of the squad soon. 

Aakash Chopra, on air, feels that the delay could be due to several reasons. According to him, one of them would be the selection of vice-captain. Jasprit Bumrah's fitness concerns might work against him. Keep in mind, he is the designated vice-captain. Will Shubman Gill be picked as vice-captain?

if Gill is going to fight for a place with Yashasvi Jaiswal, will the opener be picked as vice-captain?

Well, the wait might be finally over. We will get all the answers about India's Champions Trophy squad in a few minutes. 

Who will be the backup opener? Will Karun Nair be picked? Will India prefer an extra pace-bowling all-rounder? 

Tthe Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled a stringent set of 10-point disciplinary guidelines. The BCCI has decided to prohibit players from travelling with personal staff such as cooks, hairdressers, stylists, or personal security guards during tours.

Among other things, BCCI made domestic cricket participation mandatory for squad selection. Will the BCCI respect its guidelines and hand an opportunity to Karun Nair, the top scorer of the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy?

1. Participation in Domestic Matches

Participation in domestic matches is mandatory for players to remain eligible for selection in the national team and for central contracts, as per BCCI guidelines. This policy ensures that players stay connected to the domestic cricket ecosystem, fostering talent development, maintaining match fitness, and strengthening the overall domestic structure.

Former Indian fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad has backed Karun Nair’s inclusion in the squad for the upcoming ODI series against England, emphasising the importance of rewarding domestic performances. Nair, 33, had an exceptional run in the recent domestic one-day season, making a strong case for a national recall.

Prasad highlighted how such selections can inspire young cricketers to take domestic tournaments seriously. “It’s great that more importance is being given to domestic cricket. Though 33, but with the kind of domestic one day season Karun Nair has had, it would be good to see him for the ODI’s against England. Would also help in motivating players to play and perform in domestic cricket,” Prasad wrote on X.

Well, we need to wait a bit longer to know the Indian squad for Champions Trophy. Nikhil Naz from Mumbai reports that the selection meeting is still on and the press conference has been delayed further. 

We have waited this long. It's just a matter of a few more minutes. 

Ajit Agarkar and Rohit Sharma will address the press conference shortly. 

Rohit Sharma dropped himself for the fifth Test in Sydney, citing poor form. Former India opener Aakash Chopra said Rohit needs to score a hundred or two in the 3-match series against England in February to feel confident about his own game in the Champions Trophy. 

He said Rohit needs to not be happy with those quick-fire 50s and 60s, which he got in the ODI World Cup, and aim for the big hundreds in the 50-over tournament. 

Can Rohit, the leader, step up after a few tough months?

After an impressive Test series debut in Australia, Nitish Kumar Reddy has put himself in the mix. However, with Hardik Pandya fit and firing, it remains to be seen if the Indian selectors would pick another pace-bowling all-rounder in the squad. 

A lot will depend on the pitches in Dubai. The city is not going to be as hot as it is in the summer months. So, India might be tempted to add an extra pace-bowling option.

We will get to know everything about the squad in a few minutes from now. 

India announced their T20I squad for the England series, starting January 22 last week. Mohammed Shami made the much-awaited return while there was no place for RIshabh Pant. 

India’s squad for T20I series against England

Suryakumar Yadav (C), Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel (vc), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Shami, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel (wk). 

India will play five T20Is against England before the ODI series starts on February 6. 

The selection meeting is still on. The press conference is delayed by a bit, reports Nikhil Naz from Mumbai. 

Stay with us for all the latest updates. 

Keep in mind, the squads for both the England ODI series, starting February 6 and the Champions Trophy, starting February 19 will be announced today. 

Nikhil Naz, Consulting Editor of India Today, is at the press conference in Mumbai. The reporters are waiting for Rohit Sharma and Ajit Agarkar to arrive to the press conference room. 

Follow all live updates here. 

Can you all pick your first 15? Or at least the playing XI? 

Here's what we think the squad would be if it's going to be just 15. 

Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (wk), Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh. 

Arshdeep SIngh has been one of the most promising young fast bowlers in the country. He has evolved into a reliable T20I bowler, becoming India's leading wicket-taker among pacers in the format. 

With 20 wickets in 7 matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Punjab, Arshdeep has put his hand up. 

Is there space for India to include a fourth frontline pacer in the squad? With injury concerns to Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep might come in handy. 

India are expected to back their trusted trio of Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav. However, Kuldeep’s inclusion hinges on his recovery from sports hernia surgery.

The press conference is set to get underway at the BCCI headquarters in a few minutes. Selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar and captain Rohit Sharma will speak to the press. 

It remains to be seen if the two will address the issue of dressing room leaks, which became a big issue during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Can we expect them to speak about BCCI's 10-point guidelines? 

India captain Rohit Sharma has also arrived for the team selection meeting as he was spotted reaching the BCCI office in his car. The India captain needs to take some crucial decisions along with the selection committee and head coach Gautam Gambhir for the Champions Trophy 2025.

Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar and BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia have arrived at the BCCI Office in Mumbai to attend the team selection meeting for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and the England ODI series.

India ODI captain Rohit Sharma is back in practice and getting ready for the Champions Trophy. After practising with the Mumbai Ranji team, Sharma was seen in training alongside Hardik Pandya in the Mumbai Indians' nets.

Rohit and Hardik were training ahead of India's white-ball series against England. While Hardik Pandya will fly out for India's 3-day long training came in Kolkata on Saturday, January 18, Rohit Sharma will remain in Mumbai.

There's another stiff competition for the slot of the spin all-rounder between Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja. Patel overshadowed Jadeja in the T20 World Cup 2024 with his all round show in the tournament. The southpaw scored 92 runs from five innings during the T20 World Cup 2024 including a match-winning knock of 47 (31) in the final. Along with that, the left-arm spinner also took nine wickets from eight matches with notable performances against Pakistan and England.

The all-rounder missed out on selection in the ODI World Cup 2023 due to injury as Ravichandran Ashwin was picked over him. On the other hand, Jadeja put up impressive performances in the league stages of the World Cup 2023. Hence, the selectors will have to make a tough decision of selecting one out of the two.

India face a dilemma with wicketkeeping options. KL Rahul, the first-choice wicketkeeper in ODIs, has been consistent with the bat and reliable with the gloves. While he is expected to start, Rishabh Pant might provide stiff competition. Pant was a regular in the ODI squad before his road accident in 2022 and returned to the fold against Sri Lanka in July.

Although Dhruv Jurel is another option, it’s unlikely India will carry three wicketkeeper-batters in a 15-man squad. Meanwhile, Sanju Samson, despite his impressive ODI record, is expected to miss out due to his absence from Vijay Hazare Trophy matches.

One of the talking points heading into the squad announcement will be to see if Yashasvi Jaiswal will get his chance.  Jaiswal, who was India’s leading Test run-scorer last year, is yet to play an ODI. He has scored over 1,500 runs across 32 List A matches, including five centuries, one of which was a double hundred.

He could be picked for the upcoming England ODI series, where he could be given a few games to prove his mettle. 

Ahead of the squad announcement for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, there have been widespread discussions around, who will take the wicketkeeper’s slot for the mega event with KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson being in contention. While Samson has impressed with his recent T20I heroics, Rahul was the first choice keeper batter in Pant's absence during the 2023 World Cup. Hence, the competition for the slot is stiff and it remains to be seen who will make the cut for the Champions Trophy.

Mohammed Shami will be one of the players who could make his return into the Indian squad for Champions Trophy. Shami has been away since the World Cup 2023 final and was recently included in the India squad for the England T20I series. The pacer has been in good form during Ranji Trophy, SMAT and VHT matches. 

With India set to play their matches in Dubai, we take a look at the full schedule for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. 

Champions Trophy 2025: SCHEDULE

19 Feb – Pakistan v New Zealand, National Stadium, Karachi

20 Feb – Bangladesh v India, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

21 Feb – Afghanistan v South Africa, National Stadium, Karachi

22 Feb – Australia v England, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

23 Feb – Pakistan v India, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

24 Feb - Bangladesh v New Zealand, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

25 Feb – Australia v South Africa, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

26 Feb – Afghanistan v England, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

27 Feb – Pakistan v Bangladesh, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

28 Feb – Afghanistan v Australia, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

1 Mar – South Africa v England, National Stadium, Karachi

2 Mar – New Zealand v India, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

4 Mar – Semi-final 1, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai*

5 Mar – Semi-final 2, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore**

9 Mar – Final - Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore***

All matches start at 2:30 PM Indian Standard Time

* Semi-final 1 will involve India if they qualify

**Semi-final 2 will involve Pakistan if they qualify

* If India qualify for the final it will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

With the squad announcement just hours away, we have a look at India's schedule in the group stages of the ICC Champions Trophy. 

India's full schedule

20 February 2025: Bangladesh vs India, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

23 February 2025: Pakistan vs India, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

2 March 2025: New Zealand v India, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

While the usual suspects, including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul, are expected to feature in the squad, sources have indicated that Jasprit Bumrah is also likely to be included. However, Bumrah's participation in the tournament is subject to fitness.

Bumrah suffered a back spasm during the final Test of the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The pacer was taken for scans after experiencing discomfort on Day 2 of the Sydney Test. Although the BCCI did not disclose the full extent of his injury, Bumrah was unable to bowl during the last two days of the match, which India lost by six wickets.

Sources say the selectors want Bumrah to play at least one competitive match before the Champions Trophy to assess his fitness and make a final decision. Only Thursday, Bumrah laughed off reports that suggested he needed bed rest after consultation with experts.

India's Champions Trophy squad is set to be announced on Saturday, January 18. Ajit Agarkar, chairman of the senior selection committee, will address a press conference in the afternoon to reveal the 15-member squad for the prestigious eight-team 50-over tournament. The Champions Trophy is scheduled to take place from February 19 to March 9 across three venues in Pakistan and the UAE.

The selection committee is scheduled to hold a virtual discussion with captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir on Friday evening, sources told Sports Today, a sister channel of India Today. The selection meeting will commence at 12 pm IST on Saturday, with Agarkar expected to address the media at 2 pm IST in Mumbai. The squad for the upcoming three-match ODi series against England, starting February 3, will also be announced on Saturday.

While the usual suspects, including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul, are expected to feature in the squad, sources have indicated that Jasprit Bumrah is also likely to be included.

Meanwhile, selectors are reportedly reluctant to include Karun Nair in the Champions Trophy squad despite his stellar performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India's premier domestic 50-over tournament. Karun amassed an impressive 752 runs in seven matches, including five centuries, and played a pivotal role in guiding Vidarbha to the final. His 44-ball 88 in the semi-final against Maharashtra showcased his ability as a finisher.

However, selectors believe it would be unwise to recall Nair, who last represented India in 2017, just before a major tournament. While Nair is 33, the Karnataka batter also will find it difficult to secure a spot in the middle order in the ODI set-up amid intense competition.

Sanju Samson is also unlikely to feature in the Champions Trophy squad. The Kerala wicketkeeper-batter, who has been selected for India's upcoming five-match T20I series against England starting 22 January, missed the Vijay Hazare Trophy due to his decision not to attend a training camp with Kerala. Samson opted to remain in Dubai, leading to his exclusion from the state team for the domestic tournament.