Mohammed Shami In, Varun Chakravarthy Out; No Rishabh Pant: India's Likely XI For CT 2013 Clash VS Bangladesh

India will face Bangladesh on February 20 in their opening game of the 2025 Champions Trophy Photo : AP

KEY HIGHLIGHTS India will face Bangladesh in the 2025 Champions Trophy opening game

India beat England 3-0 in the ODI series

India and Bangladesh are in Group A with Pakistan and Bangladesh

After wrapping up a 3-0 series whitewash against England, India's focus will shift towards the 2025 Champions Trophy with their first match against Bangladesh, scheduled to take place just in eight days on Thursday (February 20) at the Dubai International Stadium. The 2013 champions will hope for a winning start with tough games against Pakistan (February 23) and New Zealand (March 2) to follow in the league with their format not allowing any roam for error.

After playing just three ODIs in 2024, the Men in Blue resumed from where they left off in the format in the 2023 World Cup as they defeated England with ease in all three matches. The decision to retain the core of the squad which reached the final of the mega event 16 months paid off as the Rohit Sharma-led side seemed to have a well-rounded team even in Jasprit Bumrah's absence.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma returned to form with a stunning ton in the second ODI and will open the batting with Shubman Gill, who won Player of the Series (POTS) awad. Despite his struggles in Test cricket, Virat Kohli continued to be in flawless form in the ODI format and will continue to bat at number five.

Shreyas Iyer was set to be dropped for the first ODI against England but has cemented his number-four spot after three impactful innings in the series. KL Rahul failed in the first two matches but after a 29-ball 40 in Ahmedabad is expected to retain the first-choice wicket-keeper batter spot which means that Rishabh Pant will have to wait for his chance.

Although, India gave Washington Sundar a chance in the third ODI, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja are expected to retain the two bowling all-rounder roles. While Axar has excelled with the bat after being promoted to number five, Jadeja's excellence with the ball remains unmatchable. Hardik Pandya will be the team's lone pace-bowling all-rounder and is arguably the most important player of the side.

In the bowling attack, India has some tough choices to make as the choice of lead spinner between Kuldeep and Varun Chakravarty will be an interesting one. Kuldeep has been in red-hot form in ODI cricket since 2023 but Varun's emergence in the last few months in T20I cricket has earned him a late call-up to the squad.

However, Kuldeep has been ahead in the pecking order and should get the nod. Varun missed out on the chance to impress in the Ahmedabad ODI after picking a calf injury and has played just 1 ODI in his career which was his debut game in Cuttack on Sunday.

While Harshit Rana has the team management's backing, it will be a big surprise if Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Shami are not India's starting fast bowling pair.

India Likely XI VS Bangladesh In Champions Trophy 2025: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Shami

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