Revealed: Why Ben Stokes isn't included in England squad for white-ball tour of India and ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Ben Stokes was part of England squad in ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

England, on Sunday, 22nd December 2024, announced their squads for the India white-ball tour and the ICC Champions Trophy (CT) 2025. The squad carries a perfect blend of experienced and youth players.

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 champions will be led by Jos Buttler at the ICC CT 2025 and will see the return of Joe Root to the ODI setup for the first time since 2023. However, the biggest highlight of the announcement is the absence of Ben Stokes from the limited-overs squad.

Ben Stokes has been a key player for England in limited-overs cricket. The 30-year-old was named Player of the Match in the finals of both of England’s ICC title wins — ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022.

Stokes stands tall as one of the greatest ODI all-rounders in England’s history. The southpaw has scored 3,463 runs in 114 matches at an impressive average of 41.22, including five centuries. In addition to his batting, he has also taken 74 wickets with an economy rate of under 6.

So, why has England’s red-ball captain been left out of the squad for the India tour and ICC CT 2025?

Why Ben Stokes isn’t included in England squad for white-ball tour of India and ICC Champions Trophy 2025?

Stokes has been left out of England’s ODI squad for the upcoming white-ball tour of India tour and Champions Trophy due to a hamstring injury that he sustained during the third test against New Zealand in Hamilton in December 2024.

While bowling on day 3 during New Zealand’s second innings, Stokes pulled out in the middle of his run-up in visible discomfort. The England captain immediately clutched his left hamstring and limped off the field. He did not bat on the fourth day and was subsequently ruled out of the test.

While announcing their squads for India white-ball tour and ICC CT 2025, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that Stokes was excluded due to his injury.

The ECB statement read, “Durham all-rounder Ben Stokes was not considered for selection as he continues to be assessed following a left hamstring injury sustained during the third test match against New Zealand earlier this month.“

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