India’s squad for the Champions Trophy 2025 has been announced and it is time to form the XI with the available personnel. Most names are along the expected lines, while some selections depend on conditions.

Rohit Sharma will open the innings along with Shubman Gill, and the two have formed a lethal opening partnership over the last few years. Virat Kohli, the best ODI batsman of this generation, will occupy the number 3 spot and do the anchor job, which he has been doing all these years.

Shreyas Iyer, who has been the established number 4 in the last few years, should take the number 4 spot. The number 5 position is a bit complicated because the selector confirmed that KL Rahul will not keep wickets due to problems, which means that he will not should find a place in the XI.

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Rishabh Pant should be the wicketkeeper batsman and occupy the number 5 spot as he brings variety to the batting unit. Ideally, KL Rahul should take this spot, but since he can’t keep it, India will be forced to field someone else, and Pant has a decent record at the No. 5 spot.

Hardik Pandya to provide balance; three pacers in the bowling department

Hardik Pandya, India’s leading white-ball cricketer, should be at No. 6 and provide much-needed balance to the team. Ravindra Jadeja will be the spin bowling all-rounder, slotted at number 7, where he would control the middle overs and firepower at the death with the willow.

Kuldeep Yadav will be India’s second spinner and wicket-taker in the middle overs, as has been the case in recent years. The pacers (Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh) will fill the remaining three spots and complete the XI.

However, India can play Washington Sundar or Axar Patel if the deck helps the slow bowlers a lot instead of Shami or Arshdeep. The inclusion of an additional spinner will provide more batting depth to the unit as both are capable with the willow.

Overall, the XI is pretty straightforward, with the only notable exclusion being KL Rahul due to health issues. Expect the main eleven to be almost identical in the first match of the tournament.

India’s Strongest Playing XI for Champions Trophy 2025

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.

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