Champions Trophy 2025: Players who could make Team India squad and those who may not

The BCCI is expected to announce the Team India squad for the limited-overs series against England and the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy on 11 January. After missing out on qualifying for the final of the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC), the focus shifts to the limited-overs formats ahead of the eight-team Champions Trophy, which will be held in a hybrid model with matches taking place in Pakistan and Dubai.

Prior to the Champions Trophy, India will play five T20Is and three ODIs against England at home. The ODI series, particularly, will give an idea as to the players who could make the cut for the Champions Trophy. We now take a look at the players who could make India’s Champions Trophy squad and the players who won’t.

Players who will likely be in and out of India’s Champions Trophy squad

Despite an underwhelming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series as both a batter and a captain, Rohit Sharma is set to be retained as India skipper for the Champions Trophy, according to news agency PTI. Rohit is also set to lead India in the three-match ODI series against England at home, that begins on 6 February. Rohit managed just 31 runs from five innings in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia.

Virat Kohli too is also set to be part of the squad. According to the Indian Express, Yashasvi Jaiswal is also set to make the squad in the aftermath of his recent impressive performances in Australia.

KL Rahul is also another certainty to make India’s Champions Trophy squad. According to the Times of India, Rahul could be rested for the white-ball series against England. However, the national selectors have guaranteed Rahul a place in the Men in Blue’s squad for the Champions Trophy.

Question marks, however, remain on pacer Jasprit Bumrah’s participation in the eight-team tournament. Bumrah sustained a back spasm during the fifth Test against Australia last week. The back spasm was confirmed after Bumrah was rushed to a hospital and underwent scans during Day two of the fifth Test against the Aussies.

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According to a report in Hindustan Times, Bumrah consulted, Dr Rowan Schouten, an orthopaedic surgeon based in New Zealand. The report adds that while Bumrah is likely to be named in India’s provisional squad, he will only play if he is free from pain once he returns to bowling.

Varun Chakravarthy to make India’s Champions Trophy squad?

Leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy has shown promising signs with his recent exploits with the ball. He picked up 18 wickets from six innings in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy and made a memorable return to the Indian team last year, picking up five wickets in three T20Is against Bangladesh. He did even better in the T20Is against South Africa, taking 12 wickets from four matches, including a five-fer.

According to The Indian Express, with Kuldeep Yadav recovering from a sports hernia, the wrist spinner is uncertain to make the Champions Trophy squad. In order to prove his fitness, Kuldeep has to play the ODI series against England, and if not, then Varun Chakravarthy could be their alternate option. Varun, however, is yet to play an ODI for India.  If the selectors are not happy with Varun, however, fellow spinner Ravi Bishnoi could get the nod.

Ravindra Jadeja to be snubbed?

According to a report in he Times of India, Ravindra Jadeja’s spot in India’s squad for the Champions Trophy could be in danger. The reports adds that with head coach Gautam Gambhir and the Indian selectors are already looking at getting a core team ready for the 2027 ODI World Cup. And Jadeja’s recent form in both limited-overs and Tests is something to worry about. “Gambhir has been very assertive about creating core teams according to formats.

“As of now, he hasn’t quite tinkered with the longer formats but has a clear vision for creating a strong base for the ODI World Cup. He is keen on giving exposure to a few more identified players. It’s all about when the selectors decide the transition needs to kick in. They will discuss if they want to go with a safe option in Jadeja or move on right now," a BCCI source told the Times of India. Jadeja had announced retirement from T20Is after India’s triumphant T20 World Cup campaign in USA and West Indies last year.