The India cricket team won’t play a warm-up match before their clash against Bangladesh on February 20. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the warm-up matches schedule for the Champions Trophy 2025, and the Men in Blue aren’t anywhere to be found.
No Champions Trophy warm-up for Team India
It was reported that Team India won’t play any warm-up matches. A big reason behind it was that the India vs. England ODI series would end on February 12 and that no other team barring Bangladesh would be there in Dubai to play their matches. Rohit Sharma and Co. will land on February 15, making it even more difficult to organise a practice game.
India’s first opponents in the ICC Champions Trophy, Bangladesh, are playing a warm-up match. The Najmul Hossain Shanto-led side will face Pakistan Shaheens on February 17, albeit on a different ground.
Team India isn’t the only one to not play any warm-up games. Three other teams won’t get any practice either. These are Australia, England, and hosts Pakistan. The Men In Green have chosen to send their ‘A’ side, the Shaheens, instead, and the other two heavyweights, like India, have played a few ODIs.
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Champions Trophy warm-up matches schedule
- 14 February – Pakistan Shaheens v Afghanistan, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
- 16 February – New Zealand v Afghanistan, National Stadium, Karachi
- 17 February – Pakistan Shaheens v South Africa, National Stadium, Karachi
- 17 February – Pakistan Shaheens v Bangladesh, ICC Cricket Academy, Dubai
India squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja
