India is preparing to begin its ICC Champions Trophy 2025 journey with a match against Bangladesh on February 20. The tournament makes a return after eight years, with the last edition held in 2017. In that event, Pakistan defeated India in the final by 180 runs. This time, India is among the favorites due to its strong and consistent performances in ODI cricket.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced India’s 15-member squad for the Champions Trophy on January 18. The team will also face Pakistan on February 23 and New Zealand on March 2 in the group stages. While the squad retains many key players from the 2023 World Cup, five players have been left out. Here are the details.
1. Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav has been dropped after underperforming in the 2023 World Cup. He was brought into the team following Hardik Pandya’s injury but could not make a significant impact in the tournament.
At present, he is leading the Indian T20 side but has not been considered for the 50-over format.
2. Mohammed Siraj
Mohammed Siraj’s omission has surprised many. In the 2023 World Cup, he played an important role by taking 14 wickets in 11 matches. However, captain Rohit Sharma mentioned that Siraj’s limited effectiveness with the old ball was the main reason for this decision.
3. Shardul Thakur
Shardul Thakur has faced several challenges recently. He played three matches in the 2023 World Cup before losing his spot to Mohammed Shami. Since then, he has struggled with injuries and was not picked during the IPL 2025 auction. Thakur is now focusing on domestic cricket to try and regain his position in the national team.
4. Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan, a wicketkeeper-batter, was included in the 2023 World Cup squad but only played two matches. He scored 0 against Australia and 47 against Afghanistan. His last international match was a T20I against Australia in November 2023. He now hopes to use the IPL as a platform to return to the national squad.
5. Ravi Ashwin
Ravi Ashwin is missing from the squad due to his retirement from international cricket. The off-spinner, who played one match in the 2023 World Cup, has been a vital part of Indian cricket. He was also instrumental in India’s 2013 Champions Trophy win, taking eight wickets in five matches.