New Delhi, 8 Jan 2025 – With the selection committee set to announce India’s squad for the much-anticipated ICC Champions Trophy, reports suggest seasoned players KL Rahul, Mohammad Shami, and Ravindra Jadeja are likely to be dropped while fin-ding a place for an emerging talent, Yashasvi Jaiswal onboard, hence the inclusion of Sanju Samson remains uncertain.
KL Rahul’s Position Under Scanner
Concerns have been raised by the selectors about Rahul’s continuing form. Since the 2023 World Cup final, Rahul’s performance has seen in and out in ODIs where India played six matches. He was included in both the South Africa and Sri Lanka series but was dropped midway during the latter owing to his middle order struggles.
His slow-paced half-century (in over 100 deliveries) against Australia in November 2023 resulted in gigantic trouble in India’s loss.
There is a debate over how necessary it would be to retain Rahul as the backup keeper. If he is not going to be used as a keeper, his place as a specialist batsman is not assured anymore, especially considering the competition from the upcoming talents.
Mohammed Shami’s Injury Issue
Mohammed Shami’s chances have been hampered by growing injuries of late which are being seen as the reasons behind the selectors’ doubts over including him. His international career was halted since November 2023, and currently, he is recovering from injury.
Although he has bowled eight overs recently in the Vijay Hazare Trophy matches, whether he is fit enough and ready for the tournament, which demands intense competition like the Champions Trophy, is yet to be answered.
Ravindra Jadeja vs. Axar Patel
Ravindra Jadeja has struggled for form in white-ball cricket, especially with the bat in ODIs. In contrast, Axar Patel is showing better form at present and is a strong contender to replace Jadeja. Probably the selectors will consider the current form of Axar and the impact he could make in the tournament.
Anticipating Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Entry
With the inclusion of promising left-handed batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal expected, this option adds to India’s batting lineup. He has raised the heads of selectors because of an impressive run in domestic cricket, and with Jaiswal’s entry, India’s batting could have some flexibility.
Sanju Samson on the Fringe
It remains uncertain whether Sanju Samson will make the cut. He has shown much promise, but he has not played in the last few rounds for Kerala because of missing out on the games due to an injury. His chance for selection now lies with the announcement/formulation of squad addition by Yashasvi and other w-k and batsmen like Rishabh Pant, making it likely that he does not have one spot in the squad.
To announce the Squad
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to announce a squad before the deadline of 12 January. The selection panel is bundled with important critical decisions blending experienced players with young blood to form a squad that will withstand the pressure at the highest level in the Champions Trophy.
While cricket remains on the edges, the sidelining of stalwarts like KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami, and Ravindra Jadeja indicates an important paradigm shift in India’s approach and a readiness to invest in youngsters for future success. The final composition of the squad will mirror the strategy and the vision of selectors going into the tournament.
