Karun Nair will not participate in the Champions Trophy, and Shubman Gill will serve as the team's vice-captain. Additionally, Yashasvi Jaiswal has secured a position in the team. Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, and Jasprit Bumrah have all been added. Mohammed Siraj has been benched, though, and Rana might only play in the three-game series against England.
Furthermore, according to chief selector Ajit Agarkar, Bumrah might not be healthy enough to bowl in at least the first two games of the series against England, so Rana will take his place.
The squad, led by Rohit Sharma, boasts a mix of experienced players and young talent. Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and Shreyas Iyer spearhead the batting department, with Hardik Pandya offering all-round capabilities. The bowling unit features the formidable Mohammad Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja. However, the fitness status of Bumrah, India’s pace spearhead, remains a lingering concern.
Karun Nair failed to make the cut despite recent stellar performances in domestic cricket and consistent displays in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The decision has sparked debate among fans and cricket pundits alike. With India’s middle-order struggles in the past, Nair's exclusion is seen as a missed opportunity to bolster the lineup with a dependable batter.
Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar addressed the media, defending the squad composition. “We have picked players based on their current form, fitness, and the conditions in which the tournament will be played. Karun Nair is a talented player, but we felt other options offered more balance to the team. As for Bumrah, we are confident he’ll be match-ready.”
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja are the entire Indian team for the England series and the 2025 Champions Trophy.