India were the finalists of the last edition of the 2023 World Cup, enjoying an unbeaten run before falling short of securing the coveted trophy. Their last ODI World Cup triumph came in 2011, and they last won the Champions Trophy in 2013.
Yes, they will be without Jasprit Bumrah, but they still have plenty of match-winners who can turn the tide in their favor on any given day.
Although many pundits are not rating them highly ahead of the tournament, underestimating India would be both an insult and a mistake.
Recent form
India enters the tournament somewhat underprepared, having played only nine matches since their World Cup final loss to Australia in 2023. After losing a series against Sri Lanka in August 2024, they bounced back with wins over South Africa and England in the lead-up to the Champions Trophy.
India will play their matches in Dubai, a venue that recently hosted the ILT20. During the tournament, Dubai staged 15 matches, including the final, with 14 of them being day-night contests. The conditions at the venue provided a fair balance between bat and ball, allowing both batters and bowlers to make an impact.
A deeper look into the numbers reveals that fast bowlers had an average of 25.06 and an economy rate of 8.08, while spinners had an average of 29.16 and an economy rate of 7.46.
This suggests that spinners will have a crucial role to play, making Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav key figures in India’s campaign.
Squad
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
Probable playing XI
- Rohit Sharma (capt)
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- KL Rahul (wk)
- Hardik Pandya
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Axar Patel
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Arshdeep Singh
- Mohammed Shami
Key players
Rohit Sharma
India’s captain has been in sublime touch, scoring 279 runs at an average of 46.50 with a strike rate of 132.86. His aggressive intent in the powerplay has provided India with flying starts, making him a crucial factor in their success.
Axar Patel
A true all-rounder, Axar Patel has contributed with both bat and ball. With 193 runs at an average of 27.57 and eight wickets at an economy rate of 4.26, he has been India’s X-factor in the middle overs. His ability to control the game in crunch situations will be vital.
Hardik Pandya
Despite limited outings with the bat, Hardik Pandya has maintained a blistering strike rate of 171.4, making him a dangerous finisher. However, his bowling has been a concern, with just three wickets at an economy of 6.74 in the recent England series. Still, he has proven himself as a key player for India, as seen in the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Players to watch out for
Harshit Rana
Harshit Rana has shown promise with the ball, picking up six wickets at an economy rate of 6.95. With India struggling in the powerplay, his role in providing early breakthroughs will be crucial.
Shubman Gill
India’s most consistent batter, Gill has been the anchor of the batting lineup, scoring 316 runs at an average of 52.67. His ability to rotate the strike and accelerate when needed makes him a key asset at the top.
Arshdeep Singh
Arshdeep Singh has been exceptional, leading the wicket charts with 14 scalps at an astonishing average of 16.64. As a left-arm pacer, he provides a crucial variation to India’s bowling attack. If not the experienced Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep will be India’s key pacer. Both Shami and Arshdeep were the leading wicket-takers for India in the 2023 World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup, respectively.
Strengths
Spin bowling dominance
India’s spin attack has been a major force, registering the second-best economy (4.5) and the third-best average (27.79) among all teams since the 2023 ODI World Cup. With Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Washington Sundar in the squad, they have the ability to choke the opposition in the middle overs.
Explosive powerplay batting
Since the 2023 World Cup, India’s batting in the powerplay has been exceptional, boasting the best average (54.20) and the highest run rate (6.02). With Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill leading from the front, they have consistently set strong platforms.
Depth in batting
With Ravindra Jadeja slotted at No. 8, India has significant depth in their batting order, allowing them to be flexible in their approach.
Weaknesses
Struggles in powerplay bowling
India has been one of the weakest teams in terms of taking early wickets with the ball. Their powerplay bowling has produced just 12 wickets at an economy rate of 5.66—ranking third worst. The absence of Jasprit Bumrah further weakens their ability to strike early.
Fixtures
- vs Bangladesh – Thursday, February 20
- vs Pakistan – Sunday, February 23
- vs New Zealand – Sunday, March 2
India’s combination of aggressive batting and strong spin bowling makes them a formidable team. However, their inability to take early wickets remains a glaring issue. If they can address their powerplay struggles, they will be serious contenders for the title.
