Team India squad for ICC Champions Trophy: Who could make it to the playing XI?

Team India looked in ominous form during the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth. However, after that, they lost the plot. The team's poor batting and lackluster bowling, except for the brilliance of Jasprit Bumrah, exposed several chinks in their armour. Once considered invincible at home, Team India has now suffered two back-to-back series defeats - a 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand at home, followed by a Border-Gavaskar Trophy loss to Australia after a decade.

Now, the team is gearing up for limited-overs cricket as they prepare to compete in the eight-team Champions Trophy in Dubai.

Before the Champions Trophy, Team India will face England in five T20Is and three ODIs, with the series running from January 22 to February 12. This series against England offers a perfect opportunity for India to gain momentum in limited-overs cricket ahead of the marquee tournament in Dubai. The Champions Trophy will also feature a high-stakes match between India and their arch-rivals Pakistan.


India, a two-time Champions Trophy winner, has been placed in Group A alongside Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Pakistan.

India last played a 50-over series in August last year against Sri Lanka, where they were comprehensively outplayed, losing the series 2-0. Interestingly, India fielded a full-strength lineup in that series, featuring captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

Who could make the squad?
As Rohit Sharma clarified during an interview during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he is not done yet and is certain to be part of the team traveling to the UAE for the marquee event. However, the fitness of the world’s best bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, remains a big question. If Bumrah manages to regain fitness, he is expected to serve as Rohit's deputy on the field.

India will also rely on their white-ball specialists to strengthen their lineup.

Squad announcement
When will the squad be announced? According to a Times of India report, chief selector Ajit Agarkar is set to begin discussions with Team India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir. All teams must submit their provisional 15-member squads by January 12.

Other slots for all-rounders could be filled by Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Riyan Parag. As for wicketkeeping, the selectors will face a tough choice between Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson.

In the bowling department, the return of Mohammed Shami could provide a significant boost to the squad. Meanwhile, the spin department is likely to feature Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav, adding variety and depth to India's attack.