Senior Indian cricketers to play in ICC Champions Trophy 2025, confirms BCCI secretary Jay Shah

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to be played in Pakistan.

Barring an injury or unavailability, captain Rohit Sharma and senior batsman Virat Kohli will feature in the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. This was confirmed by the BCCI secretary Jay Shah following India’s title triumph at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in Barbados.

The Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to be hosted in Pakistan from 19 February to 9 March. However, it is unlikely that Team India will be allowed to fly to Pakistan; if that is the case, the tournament could be played in a hybrid model like last year’s Asia Cup, where India played their matches in Sri Lanka, including the final.

India, a squad plagued by a reputation for losing major finals over the last decade, have finally ended their title drought after two agonizing losses in ICC finals last year. BCCI secretary Jay Shah expressed optimism that the team’s winning streak would continue.

The Indian team hadn’t won an ICC trophy since 2013 and lost two ICC finals in 2023. The Rohit Sharma-led side lost to Australia in the finals of the World Test Championship and the World Cup, which was played in India.

But, India won the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 undefeated, becoming the first team to do so in a men’s T20 World Cup. They defeated Pakistan, the USA and Ireland in Group A and then bested Australia, Afghanistan and Bangladesh in the Super 8 round. India then avenged their 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final loss to England, by decimating them in the semis, before clinching a seven-run victory over South Africa in the final.

Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah to play in Champions Trophy 2025: Jay Shah

Rohit and Kohli retired from T20Is soon after winning the T20 World Cup on June 29. They have said that they will play in the other two formats.

Jay Shah has assured that senior players will be available for the Champions Trophy 2025 and the World Test Championship final next year if India qualify for it. Shah confidently said that India can field three separate teams if the need comes.

“I would want India to win all the titles. We have the biggest bench strength; only three players from this team are going to Zimbabwe. We can field three teams if the need arises. The way this team is progressing, our target is to win the World Test Championship final and Champions Trophy. There will be a similar squad playing there. The seniors will be there,” Shah told PTI in Barbados.

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