KL, Shami, Jadeja To Be Axed? India's Strongest XI For Champions Trophy As Per Selection Rumours

KL Rahul, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma [Source: @335Yash/x.com]

India have just finished their tour of Australia. It did not turn out be a fruitful one for the team as they lost the Test series even after taking a 1-0 lead after the first match. As a result of losing the series, India have also lost their chance of playing in the WTC final of the 2023-25 cycle. 

The Asian giants will be looking to restore their pride in the international arena. The next big assignment for the Indian team will be the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. They will be looking to give their best during the tournament and present a tough challenge for the title. 

India will be looking take their strongest squad into the tournament. If the latest rumours and the reports are to be believed three big stars of the Indian team are to be axed. The reports state that - KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami and Ravindra Jadeja are probably not a part of the BCCI's plans for the Champions Trophy 2025. 

If India go into the tournament without these three players, then here is how the strongest XI of the team might look. 

Rohit Sharma And Shubman Gill To Open The Innings

Rohit Sharma will most expectedly be leading the side and will open the innings for the team. Even though there is a lot of rumours that Yashasvi Jaiswal might get his ODI debut during the England series, Shubman Gill will be India's first choice opener during the tournament. If Gill performs decently in the ODI series, India will persist with him. 

Kohli To Lead India's Middle Order

Even though Virat Kohli has not been in the best of forms with the bat recently, there is no way that India would travel for the tournament without him. Virat Kohli will fulcrum the Indian innings at number three.

It is expected that Shreyas Iyer will be back in the ODI scheme of things and will take up the number four position. Besides him, Rishabh Pant will probably be the keeper and one of the main pillars  in the middle-order of the team. 

---

ALSO READ

Ravindra Jadeja Out Of India's Champions Trophy Squad? CSK Great Faces ODI Snub Threat

---

Pandya And Axar As The All-rounders

Hardik Pandya is sure to be back in the playing XI for the tournament. Along with Pandya, Axar Patel will be seen in the lower middle-order in Jadeja's absence. The two players will also be expected to play a significant role with the ball too. 

Bumrah To Lead The Indian Bowling

It is expected that Bumrah will be fit by the time CT 2025 starts. If this turns to reality then, Bumrah will be in charge of the Indian bowling attack. There are doubts about the fitness of Kuldeep Yadav and the board is keeping a close eye on his development. If the left-arm wrist-spinner is fit for the tournament, then he will play in the tournament but if he is not then Washington Sundar will get a chance for the team.

Alongside, the two bowlers, Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj is expected to get a chance in the playing XI. 

India's Strongest XI With Out KL, Shami And Jadeja

Rohit Sharma (c)
Shubman Gill
Virat Kohli
Shreyas Iyer
Rishabh Pant (wk)
Hardik Pandya
Axar Patel
Kuldeep Yadav/ Washington Sundar
Jasprit Bumrah
Mohammed Siraj
Arshdeep Singh

---

ALSO READ

Shreyas Iyer Out Of Champions Trophy XI? India Has 3 Reasons To Drop Star Batter

---