The announcement of India’s squad for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy has been delayed, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) requesting additional time from the International Cricket Council (ICC) due to the team’s ongoing tour of Australia. Initially, the Indian team was scheduled to be announced by January 12, 2025, but now, the final squad is expected to be declared by January 19, 2025.
The ICC Champions Trophy, set to begin on February 19, 2025, in Pakistan, requires participating teams to announce their provisional squads at least 30 days before the tournament. However, this year, the ICC requested all teams to announce their final squads five weeks before the tournament’s start. As a result, India’s squad was initially due to be finalized by January 12, but the BCCI has decided to delay the announcement, citing the ongoing commitments of the Indian team on their tour of Australia.
According to reports from Cricbuzz, the BCCI had planned to announce the provisional squad for the Champions Trophy after a selection meeting on January 6. However, the announcement has now been postponed. The selection committee, headed by former fast bowler Ajit Agarkar, is expected to announce the squad by January 12, but the finalization process has been extended.
The delay is understood to be deliberate, as the BCCI has requested additional time from the ICC to finalize the team. With India’s team currently focused on the ongoing tour of Australia, the board needs more time to make adjustments based on the performance of players in the upcoming home series against England. The provisional squad for the Champions Trophy will likely feature players from the upcoming home series, which includes three One-Day International (ODI) and five T20 matches against England.
The delay in announcing the squad can also be attributed to the ongoing Test series in Australia, which leaves the Indian selectors with limited time to finalize the team for the Champions Trophy. The BCCI is expected to consider the performances of players in the ODI series against England before making their final decisions. The team announced for the England series could largely mirror the one for the Champions Trophy, with some adjustments made based on form and fitness.
The final squad for the Champions Trophy will likely be announced on January 19, 2025, just a month before the tournament begins. India’s first match of the tournament is scheduled for February 20, 2025, against Bangladesh. Although teams can make changes to their squads after submitting their provisional teams, it is highly anticipated that the squad announced by the selection committee will be the final one for the tournament.
As per ICC regulations, each team must submit a 15-member squad, including three reserve players. India is also scheduled to play five T20s and three ODIs against England from January 22 to February 5, 2025. The announcement for these matches is expected to be made soon, with reports suggesting that Suryakumar Yadav could be named as the captain for the T20 series, while Rohit Sharma is likely to lead the side in the ODI format. After a long gap, Virat Kohli is also expected to return to the limited-overs format for India, adding experience and stability to the squad.
In conclusion, while India’s squad for the Champions Trophy was initially set to be announced by January 12, the BCCI has requested additional time, and the final team is now expected to be unveiled by January 19. With the ongoing tour of Australia and the upcoming series against England, the selectors will have the opportunity to assess player performances and make necessary adjustments before finalizing the squad for the prestigious tournament.
BY – KARTIK
