Harsha Bhogle picks his Indian squad for Champions Trophy 2025; no place for Jasprit Bumrah
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 starts on February 19 with Pakistan and Dubai as a co-host of the tournament. India, however, will play all their matches in the UAE, starting with their first clash against Bangladesh on February 20. Amidst the speculation and excitement surrounding the announcement of India’s official squad, a well-known cricket analyst Harsha Bhogle shared his picks for the pinnacle event on his YouTube channel, making waves with the surprise decision.
Brave call by Harsha Bhogle on Jasprit Bumrah
In an unexpected decision, Bhogle decided to exclude the Ace Pacer Jasprit Bumrah from his squad, citing ongoing concerns about his fitness. Bumrah recently sustained an injury during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 and remains in doubt for the upcoming Champions Trophy.
“Let me outline my assumptions and starting point. I suspect two of India’s best bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna, may not be available due to injuries. If they’re fit, fantastic,” Bhogle explained.
Bhogle predicts India’s 2025 Champions Trophy squad
Batting line-up: opening and middle order
Bhogle looked Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill as the primary opening pair, boasting a solid partnership of more than 70 runs in at least 25 innings combined. Additionally, he highlighted the potential Yashasvi Jaiswala left-handed option that could be useful in conditions that favor slower bowling.
In the middle order, Harsha was picking Virat Kohli without question, as he remains a key figure with his consistency and class. Along with Kohli, Shreyas Iyer makes the cut, thanks to his strong performances during the 2023 World Cup and his impressive domestic form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. With these two batsmen, Harsha assured India that they have a reliable core of five batsmen in the line-up, with the flexibility to adjust depending on the match situations.
Possibilities of guarding the passage iall-circulators
Harsha believed that India are fortunate to have two capable wicketkeepers who can contribute with the bat as well. He chose KL Rahul as his primary wicket-keeper, provided he remains fit and available, given Rahul’s proven impact in ODIs. Along with Rahul, he mentioned Rishabh Pant, who has shown strong form in domestic cricket and offers valuable runs in the middle order.
Hardik Pandya Harsha identifies him as the backbone of the Indian ODI team. His ability to bowl six to seven overs consistently provides crucial balance to the side. Harsha believed that Pandya is in excellent form, both in T20Is and in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, which makes him indispensable at number six.
READ ALSO: Sunil Gavaskar, Irfan Pathan reveal their India squad for Champions Trophy 2025.
Bowling options and spin department
Harsha opted for a balanced bowling attack – three seamers and three spinners. For stitch attack, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh are his choices, assuming that Jasprit Bumrah will not be available. Harsha sees Siraj and Arshdeep as bowlers who have already proven themselves in white-ball cricket, while Shami brings invaluable control and experience in the attack.
In the spin department, Harsha went with three finger spinners – Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. He mentioned that these spinners usually perform well in UAE conditions and their batting ability further strengthens their place in the team.
15th place decision and substitutes: Bhogle’s choice
15th place was a tough decision for Harsh. After much thought, he chose Varun Chakravarthy as the last player in the team. Chakravarthy has a proven track record as a match-winner in ODIs and his variations could be crucial in UAE conditions. To provide depth and flexibility, Harsha has identified four reserve players: Ravi Bishnoi, Nitin Kumar Reddy as an additional finisher, Umran Malik as an auxiliary pacer, and Karun Nair as an auxiliary dough. These players offer valuable options and can be brought in at short notice if needed.
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