RCB's Tim David And...? 3 IPL Stars Dropped From Australia's Champions Trophy Squad

Debashis Sarangi

David is not a part of Australia's Champions Trophy squad [Source: @FlashCric/X]David is not a part of Australia's Champions Trophy squad [Source: @FlashCric/X]

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This morning, Cricket Australia announced a formidable 15-member squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy edition. While Pat Cummins has been named captain, the likes of Steve Smith, Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, and Mitchell Starc make Australia a tough team to beat in the tournament. 

However, as the 2009 Champions Trophy winners prioritised multi-dimensionality over specialists, three renowned IPL players missed out on selection, as mentioned below. 

Tim David

  • After featuring in 37 IPL matches for Mumbai Indians, Australia's swashbuckling batter Tim David witnessed a homecoming to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in last year's mega auction. 
  • However, the explosive finisher couldn't earn a place in Australia's Champions Trophy squad, with the team preferring a plethora of all-rounders for the marquee event. David hasn't had a great ODI career, scoring only 35 runs at a horrible average of 11.2. So, considering his abysmal performance in the 50-over format, Australia have left him out of their Champions Trophy squad. 

Jake Fraser-McGurk

  • Renowned for his fearless batting approach, Jake Fraser-McGurk became a household name during the IPL 2024, slamming 330 runs at a blistering strike rate of 234.04 for Delhi Capitals. 
  • However, the youngster couldn't live up to the hype in ODI cricket, scoring only 87 runs in five outings at a poor average of 17.40. He found it tough to get going against the moving ball in the Pakistan ODIs. As a result, Australia preferred Matthew Short over him in the preliminary Champions Trophy squad. 

Spencer Johnson

  • Hailed for his ability to make the new ball talk, Spencer Johnson raised a million eyebrows when Gujarat Titans purchased him for INR 10 Crores in the 2024 mini auction.
  • The tall left-arm pacer has been a regular face in the BBL and will represent Kolkata Knight Riders in the upcoming IPL edition. However, Johnson's inconsistency in international cricket cost him his place in the Champions Trophy squad.