ICC Champions Trophy 2025: From Two Wicketkeepers To Spin Attack, BCCI Mulling Right Combination

The BCCI selectors will meet over the weekend to discuss about the possible Indian squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The tournament will be starting from February 19 while the final is slated to be on March 9.

India will play all their matches in Dubai. If they make the final, it is expected that the final will be played in Dubai as well. Apart from Dubai, Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi are the three venues.

Meanwhile, for the BCCI selectors choosing the Indian squad for CT 2025 might be a tidious task. They will have to keep in mind, several factors before choosing the final squad. The debates will be around picking two wicket-keepers, picking two spinners and monitoring the fitness of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami.

As per reports in TOI, the BCCI selectors will pick a T20I team for the home series against England on January 11 which will almost be similar to the squad that played against South Africa in November last year. It is further learnt that players from the recently concluded Australia series who will play in the Champions Trophy will directly play in the ODI series against England.

BCCI Mulling Over Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul Over Wicketkeeping Options

BCCI are looking out for wicketkeeping options followed by lower-order spinning all-rounders. KL Rahul kept in Rishabh Pant's absence in the ODI World Cup in 2023. However, there are concerns on his wicketkeeping form and whether he can keep it throughout the match. His recent hamstring injury is a reason of concern that kept him out of the ODI series against Sri Lanka last year with Pant replacing him.

Moreover with India playing all their matches in Dubai, picking the right spin combination is another headache for the selectors. They are ideally looking for spin-bowling all-rounders with lower-order batting ability in focus as well. Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar are the three options likely to be given a thought. Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav is expected to be the lead spinner with him recovering well from his groin injury.

Finally, picking the right fast bowlers is also an important task for the selectors. There are reports that Jasprit Bumrah is all set to miss the England white-ball series. The selectors are keen on getting him ready for the Champions Trophy. Meanwhile, there are also reports that Mohammed Shami might return for the England white-ball series to prove his match fitness. As of now only Arshdeep Singh seems to be a certainty with Mukesh Kumar, Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna also in contention.