Just days before the deadline for teams to submit their provisional squads for ICC Champions Trophy 2025, a report has shed light on what India cricket team might look like. The Men in Blue, led by Rohit Sharma, will return to playing ODIs for the first time since the Sri Lanka tour in 2024 in the marquee event that will begin in February. The likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill are expected to make their return to 50-over format while some surprise picks and exclusions are also expected in India’s CT 2025 squad.
Ro-Ko return, Shreyas Iyer at 4 in India’s Champions Trophy squad
As per Express Sports, Rohit and Virat will make their return to ODIs and are expected to headline the top-order. Shubman Gill, the Hitman’s opening partner, is an obvious choice in the playing XI while Shreyas Iyer will resume his duties in the middle-order as the number four batter. While the former trio were a part of the IND vs AUS Test series, Iyer has gained some good game time and white-ball experience ahead of Champions Trophy 2025 by taking part in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy.
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KL Rahul > Rishabh Pant
KL Rahul is expected to be India’s first-choice keeper and their number 5 batter for CT 2025. This could mean that Rishabh Pant would either be left out or be included in the squad just as a back-up. The Karnataka star is India’s 8th highest run-getter in the format with 2851 runs from 77 matches, 18 half-centuries and seven hundreds. His average in the 50-overs format is a mind-boggling 49.15. Besides, he also has 1269 runs while batting at the number 5 position. He was also India’s first-choice keeper in the ODI World Cup 2023.
Pant could also face a tough battle with Sanju Samson for the spot of reserve wicketkeeper. While the southpaw last played in one ODI against Sri Lanka in 2024, the Kerala keeper-batter’s last appearance in a 50-over format game came in 2023.
Backups ft. Nitish, Parag & Tilak
The report states that Nitish Reddy, Riyan Parag and Tilak Verma are set to be included as back-ups in India’s CT 2025 squad. Reddy, who was fast-tracked in IND vs AUS Test series, is India’s only viable pace-bowling all-round alternative who is close to Hardik Pandya. While the veteran’s spot is all but confirmed in India’s XI, the Andhra Pradesh cricketer might just receive his maiden ODI call-up.
Yashasvi Jaiswal as back-up opener
Jaiswal, who is yet to make his ODI debut, is expected to be named the reserve opener in the squad. He will be India’s best back-up option, should something happen to regular openers Rohit and Gill.
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