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India is one of the top teams to watch out for in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. However, due to political tensions between India and Pakistan, the Men in Blue have refused to travel to the primary host nation.
As a result, under the agreed hybrid model, all of India's matches will be played in Dubai. Despite naming a strong 15-member squad, there are certain areas of concern for Rohit Sharma and his team.
Here are the three concerns for Team India ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025
1. Lack of form of both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are going through a lean patch of form, which has left fans worried ahead of the Champions Trophy. For Rohit, this tournament will be a big test not only as a batter but also as a leader. His performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was disappointing, while Virat, despite scoring a century in Perth, struggled in the remaining innings in Australia.
Both of them featured in a Ranji Trophy match for their respective states—Mumbai for Rohit and Delhi for Virat—but neither managed to score big runs or gain much-needed confidence. However, fans are hopeful that their struggles are mainly in red-ball cricket, and that they will regain form in the white-ball format.
Their performances in the 2023 ODI World Cup in India were outstanding, with Virat finishing as the highest run-getter with 765 runs and Rohit in second place with 597 runs.
Even in India's victorious 2024 T20 World Cup campaign, Rohit's attacking approach gave the team brisk starts, while Virat played a crucial, match-winning knock in the final against South Africa when it mattered the most.
2. Lack of fitness of both Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami
Both Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami have been named in the squad, but concerns over their fitness remain. Bumrah was India's standout performer in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and played a crucial role in their successful 2024 T20 World Cup campaign.
Even in the 2023 ODI World Cup, he was among the most effective bowlers. However, he is currently sidelined due to a back spasm sustained during the final Test in Australia. Shami, on the other hand, has recently made his comeback in the T20I series after a long injury layoff.
To regain match fitness, he featured in domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Ahead of the Champions Trophy, India will play three ODIs against England, which will be crucial in assessing Shami’s fitness and readiness for the 50-over format.
3. No proper backup of Hardik Pandya
Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya will be crucial for India’s success in this tournament, given his ability to contribute in all three departments. As a finisher, his role with the bat will be vital, while with the ball, Rohit Sharma may turn to him in different phases to break crucial partnerships.
However, the major concern is the lack of a proper backup if Pandya picks up an injury during the tournament. In the 2023 ODI World Cup, he suffered an ankle injury against Bangladesh and missed the rest of the competition, which affected India’s team balance.
Without a genuine pace-bowling all-rounder as cover, India could face challenges in maintaining the right combination if a similar situation arises.
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