Who will lead India!: Spotlight on team selection for Champions Trophy
By : DC Web Desk
Update: 2025-01-07 07:19 GMT
After India's debacle in the five-match Border Gavaskar Trophy that ended in Australia's favor, the focus now shifted to the upcoming Champions Trophy.
Australia registering a Test series win against India after 10 years also knocked India out of the World Test Championship (WTC) final contention.
With the defeat, India's team selection would be all the more significant.
According to media reports, the selectors have already started their home-work for the big event. While Rohit Sharma's role as a captain is confirmed, the choice for his deputy is set to change.
In the 2024 ODI World Cup, Hardik Pandya was named as the vice-captain, but he had to sit out owing to an injury. Later, KL Rahul took over as Rohit's deputy.
Meanwhile, after the Test series down under, the BCCI is looking to make Jasprit Bumrah as the Vice-captain. The pace king led India to their only victory on Australian shores. However, the 31-year-old was forced to walk out from the field owing to a back injury in the final match and his availability for at home ODI series against England is doubtful, with his fitness being closely monitored.
With the less than a month for the start of the tournament, the International Cricket Council (ICC) had set January 12 as the deadline to announce provisional squads, which can further be changed until February 13.
Meanwhile, reports also suggest that young sensation Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was India's top scorer down under is set to make his ODI debut. With Rohit and Gill opening the innings, the 23-year-old left hander is likely to find a place in the squad as the backup opener.
The much-awaited ICC tournament is set to begin on February 19 in Pakistan, while India's games would be played at a neutral venue -- Dubai.
Arguably the game's biggest rivals -- India and Pakistan are both placed in Group A and will take on each other at the Dubai International Stadium on February 23. Along with the Asian giants, Bangladesh and New Zealand will also compete in the same group. On the other hand, Australia, South Africa, England and Afghanistan will go head-to-head in Group B.