The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has kicked off in Karachi, with Pakistan and New Zealand facing off in the first match. Meanwhile, the Indian team is gearing up to start their campaign in Dubai on February 20 against Bangladesh. It’s crucial for India not to underestimate Bangladesh, especially given the absence of star fast bowler Jaspreet Bumrah due to injury. The onus of fast bowling will fall on bowlers like Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep.
For the Champions Trophy 2025, the Indian team has included five spinners in their squad. However, captain Rohit Sharma has a different perspective on this – he believes that not all five are traditional spinners. According to Rohit, three of these players are all-rounders who bring significant value to the team. Varun Chakraborty and Kuldeep Yadav are the two expert spinners, while the spin department also has other options like Ravindra Jadeja, Akshar Patel, and Washington Sundar, who can bat as well.
Rohit Defends 5 Spinners
The team has three fast bowling options in Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana, with Hardik Pandya being the only fast bowling all-rounder. When questioned about the rationale behind including five spinners, Rohit clarified that the team essentially has only two spinners, with the rest being all-rounders capable of both batting and bowling. He emphasized that the team plays to its strengths and that the three all-rounders add a unique dimension, significantly contributing to the team’s overall performance.
Rohit also highlighted the importance of the ICC Champions Trophy, stating that it’s a critical tournament like all ICC events, and to win the trophy, several factors need to come together. The Indian team for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 includes Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-Captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicket-keeper), Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, Akshar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, and Varun Chakraborty.