Indian cricket team faces big Test in Champions Trophy 2025
Team India’s Champions Trophy 2025 campaign starts with a match against Bangladesh on Thursday (20 February) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. India are the favourites for the match but the bigger goal is the Champions Trophy title and after a Test series loss at home to New Zealand and a 3-1 drubbing in Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, nothing less than the silverware will work for the Indian cricket fans.
Champions Trophy 2025: News | Schedule | Results | Points Table
The tournament is also a litmus test for captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir who are facing immense scrutiny after India’s poor form in Test cricket. There’s also news that they currently don’t share a great relationship. This only raises pressure on the two individuals as exiting the tournament before the Champions Trophy 2025 final can have a disastrous impact on their future.
Meanwhile, India are without the services of injured Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami is expected to lead the pace attack. Virat Kohli, who has been in poor form lately, will also look to rediscover his form soon and win another ICC tournament.
India vs Bangladesh squads
India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (w), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh
Bangladesh squad: Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Jaker Ali (w), Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana, Mustafizur Rahman, Towhid Hridoy, Rishad Hossain, Parvez Hossain Emon, Nasum Ahmed