India gears up for Champions Trophy which will be starting from February 19 and all of India’s matches will be held in Dubai. The squad announcement has sparked huge debate over some of the decisions taken by the selectors. While Team India is packed with talent there are glaring weaknesses that could hinder India’s chances in winning the tournament. One of the biggest concerns is India’s relatively weak pace attack, which could be problematic, especially in Dubai’s conditions.
Harshit Rana Picked Over Mohammed Siraj
India’s decision to pick Harshit Rana and leave behind India’s No.1 ODI wicket-taker Mohammed Siraj has raised a lot of concern. Siraj has been one of India’s most consistent pacers particularly in ODIs with his ability to provide crucial breakthrough in under-pressure matches. Even though Harshit Rana has shown great potential he is still inexperienced and his inclusion over Mohammed Siraj can prove to be a risky choice.
Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: Why Was Yashasvi Jaiswal Dropped From India Squad?
India’s Weak Pace Attack
India’s pace attack for Champions Trophy 2025 is looking alarmingly weak. Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out due to back injury which is already a serious setback, and now India’s primary pacers will be Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana.
Mohammed Shami has recently made his comeback and still struggling to find his form. Arshdeep SIngh on the other hand has limited ODI experience and Harshit Rana has only played 2 ODI matches. The lack of experience can prove to be a major disadvantage in the upcoming ICC tournament.
Also Read: Jasprit Bumrah RULED OUT Of Champions Trophy, One SURPRISE Inclusion In India Squad
5 Spinners: Too Much Overload
India’s squad included fives spinners: Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Varun Chakravarthy. While spinners will play a crucial role in Dubai’s conditions an overload of spin options will make the team unbalanced. Also, relying too much on spinners can backfire, especially if conditions favor pace.
India Squad For Champions Trophy 2025
Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy
Non-Travelling Reserves: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj and Shivam Dube
