The ICC Champions Trophy is set to make its highly anticipated return after an eight-year hiatus. The last edition, held in England in 2017, saw Pakistan triumph over India by a massive 180-run margin in the final to claim the prestigious title.
On January 18, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unveiled India’s 15-member squad for the Champions Trophy. India will kick off their campaign against Bangladesh on February 20, followed by high-stakes group-stage matches against Pakistan on February 23 and New Zealand on March 2.
5. Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav has been absent from India’s ODI squad following a disappointing 2023 World Cup campaign. The middle-order batter was included in the playing XI after Hardik Pandya’s injury but failed to make a significant impact throughout the tournament. Despite this, Yadav now captains India in the T20I format, showcasing his leadership and skill in the shortest format of the game.
4. Mohammed Siraj
Mohammed Siraj’s exclusion from India’s squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy is one of the biggest surprises. Siraj, who was India’s third seamer during the 2023 World Cup, took 14 wickets in 11 matches. However, India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, cited Siraj’s lack of effectiveness with the old ball as a key reason for his omission from the Champions Trophy squad.
3. Shardul Thakur
It’s been a challenging period for Shardul Thakur. The all-rounder has not played for India since December 2023, facing both a lack of opportunities and a setback with injury. After featuring in three World Cup matches, he lost his place to Mohammed Shami. Thakur will be keen to perform strongly in the upcoming Ranji Trophy season in hopes of securing a spot in India’s Test squad for the five-match series against England.
4. Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan’s place in India’s plans seems uncertain after his World Cup 2023 involvement. Despite playing two matches during the tournament, he only managed scores of 0 against Australia and 47 against Afghanistan. His last appearance in international cricket was in a T20I against Australia in November 2023. Kishan will look to perform well in the upcoming IPL season to regain his place in the national squad.
1. Ravichandran Ashwin
Unlike others on this list, Ravichandran Ashwin’s absence from the squad is due to his retirement from international cricket, rather than a selection decision. Ashwin was part of India’s 2023 World Cup squad but played just one match, against Australia in Chennai. At 38 years old, Ashwin’s legacy includes a stellar role in India’s 2013 ICC Champions Trophy victory, where he claimed eight wickets in five matches at an average of 22.