India will try to maintain momentum in their quest for a third ICC Champions Trophy championship when they play a challenging Bangladesh in Dubai on Thursday.
India had finished a 3-0 thumping of England in the just-finished ODI series at home. Even though they were the pre-tournament favorites, India still faced many obstacles. With Jasprit Bumrah unavailable and questions surrounding Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s form, the younger players must step up under pressure.
In this crucial multi-nation competition, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana will have a fantastic chance to leave their imprint.
On the other hand, recent results give cause for hope. Kohli’s pivotal fifty against England and Rohit’s century indicate they may be reestablishing their groove. The symptoms of a comeback are evident when you combine it with Gautam Gambhir’s tactical impact in India’s decisive 4-1 and 3-0 series victories in T20Is and ODIs.
India’s batting power is further reinforced by Shubman Gill’s exceptional play, which earned him Player of the Series honors against England as he amassed two fifty and a hundred in just three ODIs.
Selection dilemmas in ICC CT 2025
There isn’t much space for error for Rohit, Kohli, and even head coach Gautam Gambhir, who has only been in the position six months.
Previous defeats to Australia and New Zealand continue to haunt Indian cricket, putting every decision under scrutiny and intensifying the pressure.
Even with India’s recent success in ODIs, there are still some significant selection issues. The main question is whether KL Rahul should continue to bat at number five, where he has been most successful, or move to number six to create space in the middle order for Axar Patel.
The management of the team will probably maintain flexibility and make adjustments in response to match circumstances.
However, with Bumrah out, the bowling attack presents the greatest obstacle. It’s important to choose Mohammed Shami’s new ball partner carefully.
Arshdeep Singh’s left-arm angle and variations make him a good candidate for a starting position, while Harshit Rana has impressed with his raw pace and bounce. It’s a difficult decision that could influence India’s campaign.
For India, the goal of this game is to make a statement rather than merely get off to a winning start. A strong performance against Bangladesh could set the tone for a Champions Trophy campaign centered on atonement and reaffirmation.
Squads playing for ICC CT 2025 from India and Bangladesh
Bangladesh : Nazmul Hossain Shanto (c), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, MD Mahmud Ullah, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossai Emon, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, and Nahid Rana.
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.
As India grapples with selection issues, Bangladesh faces its own turmoil, worsened by the absence of ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan. However, given that Bangladesh has frequently caused problems for the Men-in-Blue in international competitions, India cannot afford to underestimate them.
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