The Champions Trophy 2025 is not far away, and India is likely to reveal their squad very soon. The tournament is set to start on February 19, but since the deadline for submitting the tentative squad is January 12, fans are expecting to see the squad soon. Speaking about India, they will look to make a mark as they have a decent record in this tournament. Let’s not forget they were finalists in the 2000 and 2017 edition, champions in 2013 and 2002. Now, once again, they are set for big games.
However, reports are already circulating, with everyone discussing how India will make the squad strong and what sort of winning combination will be best for them.
Many changes are expected, and we will likely see some of these changes in the India vs England ODI series as well, where some new or potential players will play and will be under the radar. However, when it comes to ICC CT 2025 there are some top-quality Indian players who may not play in the tournament despite having an impressive record in the ODI format. Let’s take a look at all the big Indian names who may not feature in the upcoming ICC tournament.
Sanju Samson
There are enough reports suggesting that Sanju Samson may not play for India in the Champions Trophy 2025, which would be a shock for everyone, as his record in ODIs is incredible, with 510 runs in 16 matches at an average of 57, showing how big this player could be if he gets more games. However, opinions suggest that since Samson is a possible opener and India has some strong openers already such as Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who are likely to open if Shubman Gill doesn’t play, it looks difficult for him to get a spot. Samson, who prefers to bat at the top, is known for taking on bowlers from the start, and as mentioned, his best position is opening.
Hence, it seems difficult for him to make space in the squad. Also, not to forget, he didn’t play any round matches for Kerala in the Vijay Hazare Trophy as he was not in the squad. It will be really important to see whether he gets a call-up for the India vs England ODI series, which takes place just before the Champions Trophy.
Mohammed Shami
India’s premier fast bowler, who last played in the final of the 2023 World Cup, was then completely out from the Indian camp due to an ankle injury. However, after successful surgery, he played in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and also featured in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, showing good performances in domestic tournaments. But can the BCCI take the risk of including an injury-prone pacer in the mix? The chances are likely that, despite his decent performances in domestic tournaments, he may not make it into the Champions Trophy squad, although nothing is confirmed.
If we look at his incredible contributions for India, especially in ODIs, the best example is the 2023 World Cup, where he finished as the leading wicket-taker of the tournament with 24 wickets in 7 innings. This was after missing the first few games and then returning to dethrone everyone. However, injury concerns remain a major issue, and India has several talented, younger players who could be preferred over him.
Shubman Gill
It’s highly debatable, but Shubman Gill is certainly not enjoying his peak form in any format of the game, especially in the recent series against Australia. After missing the first Test, when he came back to the team, he didn’t have a good outing, with scores of 13, 20, 1, 28, and 31 in the second, third, and fifth Tests, as he got dropped in the fourth game. Going a few months back against Sri Lanka in ODIs, he registered scores of 16, 35, and 6 in the first, second, and third ODIs, respectively, showing how poor his form is currently.
However, since he is still a promising batter, India may look to give him a chance. But now, with Yashasvi Jaiswal in the mix, and being a left-hander, he provides a left-right combination for India. We could see Jaiswal opening with Rohit Sharma, and Gill might be left out.
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