Champions Trophy squad selection: What to expect from India's 15-man line-up?

Champions Trophy: Captain Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar will meet the press in Mumbai after announcing India's much-awaited squad. The team for the upcoming three-match ODI will also be announced on Saturday.

In Short

• India set to announce Champions Trophy squad today
• All eyes on availability of Jasprit Bumah and Kuldeep Yadav
• Karun Nair and Sanju Samson unlikely to get the selectors' nod

After a brief delay, the Indian squad for the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 will be announced on Saturday, January 18. The selection committee, led by former fast bowler Ajit Agarkar, already discussed the squad’s composition with captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir on Friday. | Champions Trophy Schedule |

The selection meeting will convene at 12 pm IST at the Indian cricket board (BCCI) headquarters in Mumbai, where the selectors will pick the ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against England alongside the 15-member line-up for the Champions Trophy. | CT Squad announcement Live |

The squads for the ODI series, starting February 6, and the Champions Trophy, beginning February 19, are expected to be largely similar, with only minor changes based on availability and injury concerns. India will likely aim for their Champions Trophy probables to participate in all three ODIs against England.

While at least 8 to 10 players are automatic choices, there remains a selection headache for Agarkar, Gambhir, and Rohit. All eyes will be on their decisions, particularly after the scrutiny following India’s poor 2024-25 Test season, which included an unprecedented 0-3 defeat to New Zealand at home and a 1-3 loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

IndiaToday.in takes a look at the potential make-up of the 15-member Champions Trophy squad.

BUMRAH BOOST FOR INDIA?

First and foremost, there is positive news for the team and its fans. Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is set to be named in the Champions Trophy squad despite concerns over his fitness, sources told Sports Today, a sister channel of India Today. Bumrah suffered back spasms during the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney. He was unable to bowl on the final two days of the match after undergoing scans on Day 2.

Recently, Bumrah dismissed reports claiming he had been advised bed rest. The Mumbai Indians pacer appears prepared to shoulder the burden of the bowling unit in this premier 50-over tournament.

However, the selectors will include him subject to fitness. The Agarkar-led panel is keen to see Bumrah play at least one ODI against England before finalising his availability for the Champions Trophy.

SHAMI BACK IN ODIS?

Meanwhile, all eyes will be on Mohammed Shami. The senior pacer, who hasn’t played for India since the ODI World Cup in 2023, is expected to feature in the Champions Trophy. Shami has been included in the T20I squad for the upcoming five-match series against England, starting 22 January.

Shami developed a left knee problem during the latter stages of his recovery from knee surgery, which sidelined him for nearly a year. He bowled 43 overs in the Ranji Trophy match for Bengal against Madhya Pradesh in November before playing nine games in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

The selectors will hope Shami delivers strong performances in the T20I series as preparation for the ODIs and Champions Trophy.

India may consider Arshdeep Singh, who has been in fine form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, leading the bowling charts with 20 wickets in seven innings. The left-arm pacer from Punjab played a key role in India's T20 World Cup triumph, and the selectors might see this as an opportune time to transition him into the longer format.

Prasidh Krishna, who impressed in the Sydney Test against Australia, is also an option, while Mohammed Siraj seems to be a certainty in the bowling line-up.

SOLID TOP ORDER

At the top, India are expected to persist with captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, the duo who opened in the ODI World Cup.

Ishan Kishan, who served as a backup opener in the World Cup, has fallen behind in the pecking order. Instead, India are likely to provide an opportunity to Yashasvi Jaiswal. 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.

Virat Kohli, India’s top scorer in the 2023 ODI World Cup, is a certainty at No. 3.

MIDDLE ORDER DYNAMICS

The battle for middle-order positions remains intriguing. Shreyas Iyer, a vital cog in the middle order during the 2023 showpiece event, is likely to retain the No. 4 spot. Although Shreyas has lost favour in T20Is and Tests, the IPL-winning captain remains an automatic choice in ODIs.

Tilak Varma, who made his ODI debut in September 2024, is also an option. However, the young Mumbai Indians star has not impressed in ODIs as much as in T20Is.

WHO WILL BE THE WICKETKEEPER?

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.

SURPRISES IN SPIN DEPARTMENT?

The spin-bowling unit is unlikely to see much debate, despite the presence of X-factors like Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi. Varun delivered consistently for Tamil Nadu in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, but he might not make the final cut.

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.

With Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja in the squad, India will have all-rounders who offer flexibility to adapt to conditions in Dubai.