In an exhilarating announcement, India's cricket selectors have revealed a provisional 15-man squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy, set to commence on February 19, 2025. Among the notable names are the fierce pacer Jasprit Bumrah and spinner Kuldeep Yadav, both of whom faced fitness hurdles leading up to the selection.

Mohammed Siraj has been notably replaced by the emerging talent Arshdeep Singh, who has made waves with his extraordinary performances, finishing as the highest wicket-taker in the recent Vijay Hazare Trophy. His impressive showing in the ODI series against South Africa last year has solidified his position in the squad.

Bumrah and Kuldeep's selection follows injury concerns. Bumrah is nursing a stress-related injury sustained during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, while Kuldeep has been recovering from hernia surgery since November. Both players have shown positive signs, with Kuldeep rehabbing at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, where he has reportedly been bowling in full stride.

The squad, to be captained by Rohit Sharma with Shubman Gill as vice-captain, features an exciting new addition: Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has garnered his first ODI call-up. Jaiswal is anticipated to play a crucial role as a reserve opener throughout the tournament.

The, now familiar, batting lineup includes stalwarts like Virat Kohli at No. 3 and a solid middle order comprising Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul. All-rounders Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel bring depth to the squad, while Rishabh Pant and Rahul will share wicketkeeping duties. Notably, Washington Sundar adds versatility as the fourth all-rounder.

Mohammed Shami, returning after a lengthy injury hiatus, also secured a spot in the Champions Trophy squad, adding to the team's bowling firepower. Recognized as the highest wicket-taker of the 2023 ODI World Cup with 24 wickets, Shami's experience will be invaluable.

As India gears up for the Champions Trophy, they are warming up with a three-match ODI series against England starting February 6, a crucial preparation ahead of the mega event. The timing of these matches is key, being the first 50-over games since their tour of Sri Lanka in August 2023. India has been placed in Group A, where it will face formidable opponents, beginning with a clash against Bangladesh on February 20, followed by a high-stakes match against Pakistan on February 23, and rounding off against New Zealand on March 2. Due to government restrictions, all matches will take place in Dubai instead of Pakistan.

India Squad for Champions Trophy 2025:

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

Stay tuned for what promises to be an electrifying tournament as India prepares to reclaim its dominance on the global stage! Will Bumrah and Kuldeep rise to the occasion? Fans, don’t miss a beat as the action unfolds!