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India’s Best Playing XI for ICC Champions Trophy ft. Rohit, Kohli & Shami

India’s Best Playing XI for ICC Champions Trophy ft. Rohit, Kohli & Shami

Catch what will be India's best playing XI at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took patience of the Indian fans. As the deadline for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad was January 12, BCCI asked for an extension, citing uncertainty over Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav’s injury. But on January 18, India captain Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar announced India’s squad for the Champions Trophy (after a couple of hours of delay). There weren’t as big shockers but it was surprising to see the likes of Mohammed Siraj and Sanju Samson miss out.

Now let’s just talk about who is in there in the 15-man strong roster. The selection was primarily done on the basis of ICC ODI World Cup 2023 performance, as there weren’t many ODIs played in between. Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul are likely to continue in the middle order, with Arshdeep Singh coming up in the ranks as a pacer.

Best batting line-up at ICC Champions Trophy?

Top-order: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli to feature

In terms of pedigree, India might have the best batting department in the entire tournament. Where do you get to see players from whom you expect a century every game?

Talking about the openers, we should continue with the duo of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. Prior to the announcement, some people argue that Rohit should open with Yashasvi Jaiswal instead of Gill. But by appointing Gill as the deputy of Rohit, the management has made their intentions clear about the talent dubbed ‘Prince of Cricket’. In the last three years, no other duo has stitched up as many numbers as Rohit and Gill, who have mustered 1732 runs at an average of 72.16 in ODIs in the last three years.

To follow them up is Virat Kohli, who is perhaps the greatest ODI batter of all time. Yes, he might be enduring a low phase after a horrible BGT. But, come the ODI format, he is likely to dominate. No other batter has scored more runs in ICC Champions Trophy and Kohli would love to get back to his number three. In the last 3 years, he has scored 1737 runs at an average of 52.63. This tally includes 7 hundreds, the most by an Indian in this period.

Middle-order: Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul to continue

Now come the middle-order, where Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul will bat at numbers four and five. Despite not being in India’s central contract, Iyer was a necessity in the middle order. He had an outstanding ODI World Cup, hammering 530 runs in 11 innings at an average and SR of 66.25 and 113.24, respectively. The right-hander has been one of the consistent batters for India in the ODI format, scoring 2383 runs from 59 ODI matches of his career at an average of 49.63 and a strike rate of 101.27. 

KL Rahul, meanwhile, will take care of the keeping duties. His spot should never come into question anyway, having racked up runs every time he has the opportunity in the middle-order. With the likes of Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and possibly Shreyas Iyer filling up the top-order, Rahul’s viable spot is at number five. Ever since his ODI return in Asia Cup 2023, he has amassed 865 runs at an incredible average of 61.78.

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All-rounders: Hardik Pandya the MVP?

Barring Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya would be India’s most valuable player for sure. He will be the bridge between batting and bowling, and his value will be of paramount importance. Pandya’s batting won’t just be needed in finishing duties but his pace bowling, something that has gone up a notch, will come into the fray as well. With Bumrah and Shami enduring some fitness concerns, Pandya’s pace bowling would be needed.

Another all-rounder will be Ravindra Jadeja, one of the three Indian players who has been in the squad for Champions Trophy 2013, 2017, and 2025. Batting at number seven, Jaddu needs to have his hitting abilities at a superb rate. When it comes to bowling, he will definitely do a job of restricting the opposition with some frugal bowling.

Bowlers: Fitness concerns aside, lethal combination nonetheless

Now coming to the bowling department and here we have one of the most dangerous but concerning bowling combination. You have Kuldeep Yadav, who is one of the most wily spinners in white-ball cricket. But he is coming on the back of a lengthy injury. In last three years, no Indian spinner has taken more wickets than Kuldeep, who has 65 wickets at an average of 22.13.

Next we have three pace-bowling options. In Dubai, one might feel that India should go spin-heavy. But the stats say otherwise. In the ongoing ILT20 2025 (as of Jan 17), pacers have taken 41 wickets at 19.14 as compared to spinners who have just 8 wickets at 46.87. As a result, India should play all three pacers in Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh.

Both Bumrah and Shami will come on the back of injury concerns. However, when fit, both are best in what they do. Bumrah is the best cricketer currently, Shami was unplayable at the ODI World Cup 2023, finishing up with 24 wickets. Meanwhile, the third pacer is Arshdeep and not Mohammed Siraj. Arshdeep’s left-arm angle has gotten him a nod. The Punjab-born pacer is already a force to be reckoned with in the T20 format but is yet to prove his mettle in ODIs.

India’s Best Playing XI for ICC Champions Trophy

S. No. Player Name Role
1Rohit Sharma (C)Batter
2Shubman Gill (VC)Batter
3Virat KohliBatter
4Shreyas IyerBatter
5KL Rahul (WK)Keeper
6Hardik PandyaPace all-rounder
7Ravindra JadejaSpin all-rounder
8Kuldeep YadavSpinner
9Mohammed ShamiPacer
10Arshdeep SinghPacer
11Jasprit BumrahPacer

Non-selected players: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Rishabh Pant

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