Rohit Sharma:  India’s chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, unveiled the Indian squad for the Champions Trophy during a press conference in Mumbai today, with team captain Rohit Sharma in attendance. The 15-member lineup features seasoned players like Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer. In a surprising twist, fast bowler Mohammed Siraj has been left out of the team.

Rohit explained this decision, stating that Siraj’s effectiveness diminishes with the old ball, which influenced the selection process. Despite being the leading wicket-taker in ODIs since 2022, Siraj’s exclusion has sparked outrage among fans, who are voicing their frustrations on social media.

Rohit emphasized that Siraj excels with the new ball, and his performance could falter in Dubai with the older one. Meanwhile, Mohammed Shami has proven his skills in the ODI World Cup, showcasing his versatility with various types of deliveries.

Arshdeep Singh has been making waves with his swing bowling in the early overs and his lethal performance in the death overs, having shone in the T20 World Cup and currently in great form. Jasprit Bumrah is included as the third pacer, although he is currently dealing with an injury, and Harshit Rana may be brought in as a replacement later.

Stats

Mohammad Siraj has emerged as a standout performer for the Indian team in ODIs over the past two to three years. He ranks as the second fastest bowler to achieve the highest number of wickets in the 50-over format since 2022, trailing only behind Pakistani pacer Shaheen Afridi, who has 83 wickets. Siraj has claimed 71 wickets, boasting an impressive average of 22.9.

In terms of his recent form, he secured 14 wickets in 11 matches during the 2023 ODI World Cup, averaging 33.50. Additionally, in the 2023 Asia Cup, he was a force to be reckoned with, taking 10 wickets across 4 innings in 5 matches, with a remarkable average of 12.20. This performance made him the second highest wicket-taker in the tournament, highlighted by a match-winning spell where he took 6 wickets in the final.

The Indian team for the Champions Trophy 2025:

Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja.