India squad announcement date revealed, KL Rahul ignored while Rishabh Pant’s backup complete
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is all set to announce the squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 after the completion of the ongoing 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy. India and Pakistan are the only teams that have yet to announce their squads for the prestigious tournament.
A report in PTI revealed that the BCCI and the Ajit Agarkar-led Indian selection committee sought the extension after the deadline for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad announcement ended on January 12, with the six participating teams already presenting their provisional squads. composition.
BCCI to announce ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad after Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 final
It also said that the Indian selection committee is scheduled to meet on January 19 after the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 final on January 18 to select a 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which is scheduled to be won on February 19 in Karachi. .
Meanwhile, KL Rahul is unlikely to be picked as the wicketkeeper for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. Ajit Agarkar and his team have reportedly identified a back-up for India’s No. 1 wicketkeeper, Rishabh Pant, for the upcoming eight-nation tournament.
KL Rahul kept wickets in the 2023 ODI World Cup, but Rishabh Pant is rumored to be India’s first-choice wicketkeeper, with Dhruv Jurel, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan competing for a supporting role for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. .
Dhruv Jurel will be selected as Rishabh Pant’s back-up for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
The report further claimed that young wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel is the first, especially after Sanju Samson opted out of the 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy to support Rishabh Pant in the upcoming Champions Trophy. Kishan is likely to miss out due to his less-than-impressive form in the ongoing 50-plus domestic tournament.
Besides, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy and young leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi are being considered by the BCCI, Ajit Agarkar and the national selectors as potential replacements for Kuldeep Yadav, who has undergone fitness tests and is ready for match simulation soon.
Varun Chakravarthy has been in great form in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25, taking 18 wickets so far, but concerns about his fielding and performance on flat pitches may go against him. If the BCCI and the national selector take these factors into consideration, then Ravi Bishnoi could be a preferred option for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Ravi Bishnoi and Varun Chakravarthy in the race to replace Kuldeep Yadav
Bishnoi has also been in impressive form in the ongoing domestic 50-over tournament, taking 14 wickets and is also an excellent fielder. So, there is a good chance of Ravi beating Chakravarthy in the race for selection for the upcoming Champions Trophy.
Significantly, Ravi Bishnoi is known to trouble the batsmen with his fast leg breaks, sliders and googlies, instead of using flight, drift and dip to outwit them. However, the young leg-spinner played only one ODI match; it was his debut against South Africa in Lucknow, where he took only one wicket.
However, Bishnoi has 50 wickets in 33 games from List A. But the youngster has played 37 T20Is for India and taken 56 wickets. On the other hand, Varun Chakravarthy is yet to make his ODI debut and has so far played only 13 T20Is and taken 19 wickets.
