The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is expected to begin on February 19, and Pakistan and Dubai is hosting the tournament. India, however, will play all their matches in the UAE, starting with their first match against Bangladesh on February 20. Amidst the speculation and excitement surrounding the announcement of India's official team, the famous cricketer. Harsha Bhogle he shared his decision for the event on his YouTube channel, making a surprising decision.
Brave call by Harsha Bhogle on Jasprit Bumrah
In an unexpected move, Bhogle has opted not to include the ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah from his team, citing ongoing concerns about his fitness. Bumrah recently got injured during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 and remains doubtful about the upcoming Champions Trophy.
“Let me explain my thoughts with a starting point. I think two of India's bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna, will not be available due to injuries. If they are fit, great,” Bhogle explained.
Bhogle predicts India's squad for Champions Trophy 2025
Batting line: The opener is a middle order
Observations Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill as the first opener, boasting a solid partnership with more than 70 runs in at least 25 innings combined. In addition, he showed the possibility of Yashasvi Jaiswala left-handed approach that can be useful in situations that tend to play slowly.
In the middle, Harsha decided Virat Kohli without question, as he remains very important with his consistency and class. Next to Kohli, Shreyas Iyer cuts, thanks to his strong performance in the 2023 World Cup and his domestic form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. With these two batsmen, Harsha assured India of a reliable base of five in the batting line-up, with flexibility depending on the nature of the match.
Wicket keeping options are around
Harsha believed that India has the advantage of having two wicket keepers who can contribute and bat. He chose KL Rahul as his main wicketkeeper, as long as he remains fit and available, given Rahul's assurance in ODIs. Along with Rahul, he said Rishabh Pant, who has shown strong form in domestic cricket and provides valuable runs in the middle.
Hardik Pandya known by Harsha as the backbone of India's ODI team. His ability to bowl six to seven overs regularly gives the side a vital advantage. Harsha believes that Pandya is at his best, both in T20Is and the Vijay Hazare Trophy, which makes him a valuable No.6.
Also READ: Sunil Gavaskar, Irfan Pathan reveal their Indian squad for Champions Trophy 2025
Bowling options are the spin department
Harsha opted for a balanced bowling attack – three seamers and three spinners. For seam attack, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh and his choices, to think that Jasprit Bumrah it is not available. Harsha sees Siraj and Arshdeep as bowlers who have already proven themselves in white-ball cricket, while Shami brings much-needed control and experience to the attack.
In the spin department, Harsha went with three finger spinners – Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. He added that these spinners tend to perform well in UAE conditions, and their batting ability further cements their place in the team.
15th pick and standout players: Bhogle's pick
15th place was a tough choice for Harsha. After much deliberation, they decided Varun Chakraborty as the last player in the team. Chakravarthy has a proven track record as an all-rounder in ODIs, and his versatility could be crucial in the UAE's situation. To provide depth and flexibility, Harsha identified four standout players: Ravi Bishnoi, Nitin Kumar Reddy as a last resort, Umran Malik as a backup, and Karun Nair as a backup batter. These players offer valuable options and can be stepped in quickly if needed.