KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya OUT, 2 Players IN: India’s Likely XI For Champions Trophy Match Vs Bangladesh

India is set to begin their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 phase against Bangladesh on February 20 at Dubai International Stadium. India completed their campaign with a clean 3-0 against England, which gives them good momentum heading into the tournament.

No Jasprit Bumrah, Yashasvi Jaiswal OUT: Predicting India’s Strongest Playing XI For Champions Trophy 2025

It is crucial for India to start on the right foot so they can make a semifinal appearance. Since it is a short tournament, teams must secure two wins out of three league matches to qualify. India faces off against Pakistan on February 23 and New Zeland on March 2, meaning the Blue Men cannot afford to lose against Bangladesh. Both Pakistan and New Zeland are more than capable of toppling India in the group stages. India must have settled on the right combinations they intend to use during the ICC Champions Trophy after trying numerous options in the England ODI series, although there should be a small degree of flexibility depending on the conditions. For more latest Cricket update, Click 1xbetfair

The pair set to open the innings are Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma. Both had a spectacular performance in the ODI series against England. Gill had two fifties and a hundred, while Rohit had a hundred of his own in the second ODI. Virat Kohli, who scored a fifty in the final game, will bat at three. India’s gamble on Shreyas Iyer got them rewarded in the England series and with his fifty in three matches, he has alongside confirmed his place in the XI. Although KL Rahul did not score many runs, he had a good innings in the third ODI where he scored 40 runs.

India needs to make a decision regarding Rahul and whether they want Rishant Pant to play before him. Pant did not get a game against England, but if India is going to try him out somewhere, then it should be against Bangladesh, who have a very high spin bowling quotient, and he should do well against them. He did well against the spinners in county matches.

Assuming that the wicket turns and India wishes to take a chance, they can do so with both Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja, while resting Hardik Pandya. Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav can also make the cut. The pace attack should comprise Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh. For those out of the loop, Jasprit Bumrah won’t be available for India as he was ruled out of the tournament due to an injury.

India’s Likely XI vs Bangladesh Clash: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (WK), Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy.

India Squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.