Virat Kohli during recent IND vs ENG ODIs (Source: AP Photos)
The Champions Trophy 2025 is finally underway and New Zealand have started off the tournament with a win against the hosts Pakistan. The focus now shifts to Dubai where the finalists of the last edition, India would start off their campaign against Bangladesh.
India would be going into the game as the favourites with plenty of superstars in their line-up and it would be a big upset if they end up losing against Bangladesh. The Men in Blue recently whitewashed England and would be high on confidence, but there are some big players who are not at their best and they might fail against Bangladesh. So, let's now look at the three players who might flop in India's Champions Trophy opener.
1. KL Rahul
The Indian wicketkeeper batter has a good ODI record and has shown the ability to deliver in the middle order despite being a natural opener. However, the tinkering of his batting order in the recent past has not helped his cause and in five innings since 2024, the batter has scored just 83 runs with not a single score of over 50.
| Criterion | ODIs In 2024 | ODIs In 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Innings | 2 | 3 |
| Runs | 31 | 52 |
| Average | 15.50 | 17.33 |
| 100s/50s | 0/0 | 0/0 |
He has been forced to bat at number six with management choosing left-handed Axar Patel at number 5 and the same trend could continue in the game against Bangladesh. It would give less time for KL Rahul to settle who generally takes some time to get going, and it could result in another failure.
2. Virat Kohli
The right-handed batter is one of the finest-ever to play ODI cricket and over the years, his consistency has caught the imagination of cricket fans. However, his form since 2024 has been a big cause of worry as he has scored his runs at an average of just 21.83 across formats.
| Criterion | Data (Across Formats In 2024) |
|---|---|
| Innings | 32 |
| Runs | 655 |
| Average | 21.83 |
| 100s/50s | 1/2 |
In ODI format too, he has been uncharacteristically getting out on low scores and has one score of above 50 in the last five innings. Also, the wicket in Dubai is not likely to be a belter, and batters would have to work hard for their runs.
It would make stroke-play difficult, and as India have been trying to play with positive intent, Kohli might be forced to bat out of his comfort zone. It could lead to his failure as he is already short of confidence, and the batter could make more errors while playing his shots than he normally does.
3. Mohammed Shami
The right-arm pacer made his long-awaited comeback after 2023 World Cup in the series against England. He played two ODIs, but could manage just a wicket in each of the game and looked a bit rusty after a long break. He was also expensive with the ball and leaked runs at an economy rate of 6.56 and did not look effective with the new ball in the powerplay, a phase where he is considered to be most lethal.
| Criterion | Data (After Injury) |
|---|---|
| Innings | 2 |
| Wickets | 2 |
| Average | 52 |
| Economy Rate | 6.56 |
Thus, if Mohammed Shami takes more time to settle in the Champions Trophy opener, Bangladesh batters might go after him and it could cost India. Also, the pitch is not expected to assist seamers a lot, and it would make Shami's job a bit more difficult. Therefore, he is one of the high-profile candidates who can fail in Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh.
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 "Aashay Chopade")
