Rahul Over Pant; Where Will Kohli Bat? India's Strongest XI For Champions Trophy Match Vs Bangladesh

Team India will face Bangladesh in Champions Trophy 2025 [Source: AP]

Team India is gearing up for the Champions Trophy 2025 after a dominant 3-0 clean sweep against England in the ODI series at home. The series saw some remarkable performances, with India showcasing their depth in both batting and bowling. Shubman Gill led the batting charts with 259 runs, while Shreyas Iyer, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Axar Patel also played key roles.

On the bowling front, Ravindra Jadeja shined with six wickets in two matches, and debutant Harshit Rana made an impressive start with six wickets as well. With India set to play their first match of the Champions Trophy against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20, let’s take a look at India’s strongest XI for the tournament opener.

India's Top Four Should Remain Unchanged

India’s top four batters are in red-hot form and should continue in their roles without any changes. Their consistency and ability to deliver under pressure make them an integral part of the team’s success.

Table: Players Stats In ODIs

• Rohit Sharma & Shubman Gill (Openers): The duo has formed a formidable opening partnership in ODIs, accumulating 1,874 runs in 27 innings with a highest stand of 212. Their ability to provide solid starts makes them a key asset.
•  Virat Kohli (No. 3): Kohli remains India’s backbone in ODIs, with a staggering 13,962 runs in 297 matches. His experience and match-winning ability make him irreplaceable.
•  Shreyas Iyer (No. 4): Iyer’s recent performances, including his 530 runs in the 2023 World Cup, solidify his position at No. 4. His ability to handle spin and pace makes him a perfect fit in the middle order.

Axar Patel vs KL Rahul: Who Should Bat At No. 5?

A major selection headache for India will be choosing between KL Rahul and Axar Patel at No. 5.

Table: Axar Patel vs KL Rahul Stats At No 5

•  KL Rahul: He was India’s preferred No. 5 until the 2023 World Cup final, scoring 1,259 runs in 30 innings at an average of 57.22. His ability to anchor the innings and accelerate when needed makes him a strong contender.
• Axar Patel: Team management has used him effectively as a middle-overs enforcer. Given his ability to counter spin and accelerate, Axar could be promoted ahead of Rahul depending on match situations.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir believes in a situational approach, and if the team requires an aggressive left-hander in the middle overs, Axar might get the nod over Rahul. However, this remains a debatable spot and could change based on match conditions.

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All-Rounders: Hardik Pandya And Ravindra Jadeja

India’s all-rounders play a crucial role in providing balance to the team by contributing with both bat and ball.

Table: Hardik Pandya And Ravindra Jadeja's ODI batting stats

Table: Hardik Pandya And Ravindra Jadeja's ODI bowling stats

• Ravindra Jadeja has been in excellent form, scoring 332 runs and picking up 37 wickets in 28 ODIs since January 2023. His left-arm spin is a key weapon in the middle overs, and his ability to finish games makes him an automatic selection.
• Hardik Pandya is another indispensable player in India’s lineup. He has scored 419 runs in 23 innings and taken 24 wickets since 2023. His all-round abilities make him vital, especially in conditions where seam bowling and power-hitting are crucial.

Kuldeep Or Chakravarthy; Who Should Play As India's Lead Spinner?

India will likely go with one specialist spinner, and based on experience and form, Kuldeep Yadav is the obvious choice over Varun Chakravarthy. Kuldeep Yadav has a remarkable record, with 174 wickets in 108 ODIs. His ability to take wickets in the middle overs makes him India’s go-to spinner in the format.

Table: Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy's ODI bowling stats

On the other hand, Varun Chakravarthy is still new to ODIs, having played just one match, where he took one wicket. While he has potential, he lacks the experience needed for a high-pressure tournament like the Champions Trophy.

Given his proven track record, Kuldeep Yadav should be India’s primary spinner in the playing XI.

Pacers: Mohammed Shami & Harshit Rana

India’s pace attack will be crucial in the tournament, especially since Jasprit Bumrah will miss the Champions Trophy 2025.

• Harshit Rana has been in top form, especially in the recently concluded ODI series against England, where he picked up six wickets in three matches. His ability to hit the deck and generate extra pace makes him a potent option with the new ball.

Table: Harshit Rana's ODI stats

The toss-up for the second pacer will be between Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh.

Arshdeep Singh provides a left-arm angle, which adds variety to the attack. However, Mohammed Shami brings experience and proven match-winning ability. He has 197 wickets in 102 ODIs, and although he has been inconsistent since returning from injury, his ability to strike early and control the game in the death overs makes him the better choice.

Table: Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh's ODI stats

If India plays both Arshdeep and Rana, the pace attack might lack experience. Hence, Shami should start against Bangladesh, allowing him to regain confidence before crucial matches against New Zealand and Pakistan.

India's Strongest XI For First CT Match vs Bangladesh

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami

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