After a fair amount of delay, India announced their Champions Trophy squad, and not much has changed apart from Mohammed Siraj’s exclusion from the squad. However, India can make changes if they want, as it is just a provisional squad having names like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah.
The BCCI can make adjustments if needed, as the final date for submitting the squad to the ICC is February 11. This could happen if there are fitness issues or unavoidable circumstances forcing selected players to opt out of the squad. However, it seems unlikely that India will make changes.
If they do feel the need, who are those names who can make the cut? Take a look at three quality players who could be included in the Indian Champions Trophy team to strengthen the squad.
Players who may still make it into India Champions Trophy Squad
Player | Specialization |
Abhishek Sharma | Batter |
Harshit Rana | Pacer |
Nitish Kumar Reddy | All-rounder |
Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek Sharma recently created havoc among bowlers in the Vijay Hazare Trophy while playing for Punjab. He scored 467 runs at a strike rate of 130.44 and also registered his highest score of 170. Although in the team, Yashasvi Jaiswal is traveling with the camp possibly as a backup opener, the team can still add Sharma if any other batter pulls out. There is no doubt about how this left-handed batter can make an impact; we have already seen his success in T20 cricket, and he could replicate that in the 50-over format as well. Surely, making a place for him in India’s XI for the Champions Trophy 2025 could be difficult, but he could travel as a backup.
Harshit Rana
Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness is still a concern, and the team has backed Arshdeep Singh if it comes to light that Bumrah is not fully fit for the Champions Trophy games. However, many feel that a better replacement for Bumrah could be Harshit Rana, who impressed on his debut in Australia. Although his performance in the pink-ball Test didn’t end well, everyone is aware of his potential with the ball, everyone has seen his bowling in the IPL as well, particularly his ability to strike early. We can expect that if the team feels the need, they could carry him as a reserve, as he could be a quality backup in this India squad.
Nitish Kumar Reddy
Can Nitish Reddy, who had impressive outings in Australia with the bat, come in as the backup for Hardik Pandya? The amount of talent Reddy showed during the recently held Australian tour could give him the edge. If he makes it into the squad, he can provide a big boost to India, who are still searching for a like-for-like replacement for Pandya. Nitish Reddy has shown incredible growth in the last two years and looks set for big games. Adding him could provide India with a significant advantage, and if Pandya gets injured, Nitish Reddy can step into the field for the Champions Trophy 2025.
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