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India 2025 Champions Trophy Squad SWOT Analysis – Title without Bumrah?

Sparsh Telang
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India 2025 Champions Trophy Squad SWOT Analysis – Title without Bumrah?

India 2025 Champions Trophy squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy

India in ODIs since the 2023 World Cup:

  • Matches played: 9
  • Matches won: 5
  • Matches lost: 3
  • Tied: 1
  • W/L ratio: 1.666
  • Batting run rate: 5.83

Most runs for India in ODIs since the 2023 World Cup:

  1. Shubman Gill (RHB): 316 runs, AVG: 52.66, SR: 92.12, 100s: 1, 50s: 2
  2. Rohit Sharma (RHB): 291 runs, AVG: 46.50, SR: 132.85, 100s: 1, 50s: 2
  3. Shreyas Iyer (RHB): 271 runs, AVG: 38.71, SR: 117.31, 100s: 0, 50s: 3

Most wickets for India in ODIs since the 2023 World Cup:

  1. Arshdeep Singh (left-arm pace): 14 wickets, AVG: 16.64, ECO: 4.75
  2. Axar Patel (left-arm spin): 8 wickets, AVG: 34.25, ECO: 4.25
  3. Washington Sundar (right-arm off-spin): 8 wickets, AVG: 23.25, ECO: 4.42
  4. Kuldeep Yadav (left-arm wrist-spin): 7 wickets, AVG: 34.85, ECO: 4.19

India 2025 Champions Trophy Squad SWOT Analysis: Will the favourites go on to win?

India’s Spin-heavy Squad: Is Five Too Many?

India are heading into the Champions Trophy with a squad featuring five spinners and only three specialist seam-bowling options. All of their matches will be played in Dubai, where the ILT20 – the only recent tournament held at the venue – saw pacers claim 68.2% of the wickets, while spinners took just 31.8%.

This isn’t to suggest that India’s spinners won’t perform; they’re all top-tier and can shine on almost any track. But having five of them might just be an overkill. Especially when you consider that there are only three specialist pacers, and one of them, Shami, is returning from injury and still isn’t quite at his best, and the other two have a combined 12 matches of ODI experience.

Instead of replacing Yashasvi Jaiswal with Varun Chakravarthy, India could have considered recalling Mohammed Siraj to add more depth to their seam attack, especially in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah.

Seam Attack Setbacks: Navigating Bumrah’s Injury

Jasprit Bumrah’s absence is a significant setback. Not only does it impact India’s death-bowling, but their new-ball attack also takes a considerable hit without him, forcing Arshdeep Singh – the squad’s only real threat with the new ball – to start in the XI.

Interestingly, Mohammed Shami’s ODI numbers in the first six overs – when new-ball movement is at its best – aren’t particularly impressive. He’s most effective as a first-change bowler, a role in which he excelled during the 2023 World Cup.

India also faces a slog-overs issue, and Shami has never been particularly renowned as a death-bowler. He’s also returning from injury, and his bowling in the second ODI in Cuttack wasn’t particularly reassuring.

On the contrary, the 6’2″ Harshit Rana proved effective with his hit-the-deck methods, often bowling at speeds exceeding 140 kph. While he was occasionally expensive, he finished the England series as the joint second-highest wicket-taker and remained a consistent threat with the ball.

However, while he can seam the new ball, he isn’t quite a new-ball bowler at this stage of his career and is better suited to bowling in the middle overs. His cutters and pace variations also make him a valuable option at the death. With the new ball, India may have to turn to Hardik, who, while not ideal, offers better line control than Harshit and can even generate some movement away from right-handers.

While this setup is far from ideal, and Bumrah’s injury has been a major setback, India didn’t help their cause by leaving out Siraj. Now, they must focus on maximising their available resources through smart utilisation.

India 2025 Champions Trophy Squad Analysis: Should Mohammed Siraj have been selected?

India’s Batting Blueprint for the Champions Trophy

India has retained their batting core from the 2023 ODI World Cup, and rightfully so. All of their top five batsmen boast an average of over 45 in ODI cricket and have been instrumental to the team’s success in recent years. The fact that Rishabh Pant — who would likely start in almost any other side — will be a backup speaks volumes about the strength of India’s batting.

The only concern was (is?) the form of veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. While the former silenced his critics in style with a swashbuckling, match-winning century in Cuttack, Kohli also contributed with a run-a-ball half-century in the third ODI. Though it wasn’t the most convincing knock, the runs and time spent in the middle will undoubtedly benefit him as he heads into the Champions Trophy.

To avoid an all-right-handed top five, India may consider promoting Axar Patel ahead of KL Rahul to No. 5, as seen in the England series.

“That’s the way cricket is meant to be played,” Gambhir said of Axar’s promotion. “I know a lot of people talk about it, but that’s the way we got to play the game, and that’s the way cricket should be played. It’s not about the batting order, it’s about who can create what impact. And it’s about just if you have the option of putting a quality left-hand batter in the middle; why won’t you do that?

“Why would you want to have top five as right-handers? We don’t look at averages and stats and all that stuff. We look at who can deliver more at that number. And Axar has done fabulously well. Both the games [in which] he got the opportunity; he delivered for us. I know there will always be talk – there will always be people talking about it – but I think that’s the way we want to go in future as well.”

With Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja also in the mix, India’s batting lineup is arguably stronger than ever.

India’s All-Round Depth: A Key Advantage

One of India’s key strengths lies in the depth they possess in both departments, thanks to their all-rounders.

While some might argue that playing two players of similar roles – Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel – is a waste of a spot, it’s important to note that, despite both being left-arm spinners who bat left-handed, they offer distinct skillsets.

While Jadeja, with his high-arm action and ability to impart heavy revs on the ball, challenges both edges of the bat, Axar, with his wider release, keeps the ball moving into the right-hander even after pitching, primarily targeting the inside edge of the bat. Thanks to his height, Axar also releases the ball from a higher point than Jadeja, adding another layer of distinction to their styles.

With the bat, while Jadeja is more of a lower-order pace hitter, Axar stands out as one of the best players of spin in the country, adding immense value as a floater in the middle overs.

India Predicted Starting XI for the 2025 Champions Trophy

1. Rohit Sharma (c), 2. Shubman Gill, 3. Virat Kohli, 4. Shreyas Iyer, 5. Axar Patel, 6. KL Rahul (wk), 7. Hardik Pandya, 8. Ravindra Jadeja, 9. Harshit Rana/Mohammed Shami, 10. Kuldeep Yadav, 11. Arshdeep Singh

India 2025 Champions Trophy Squad SWOT Summary

Strengths:

  • Strong and experienced batting core
  • Excellent depth in both departments, thanks to all-round options
  • High-quality spin-bowling unit
  • Middle-overs mastery with both bat and ball

Weaknesses:

  • The absence of Jasprit Bumrah
  • Limited new ball impact
  • Inexperience in pace attack and death-bowling concerns against power-hitters

Opportunities:

  • Tactically utilise Axar as a floater and Hardik as a new-ball option
  • Chance for Harshit to grow and establish himself in the ODI setup
  • Matchup-based spin selections to exploit opposition weaknesses

Threats:

  • Shami’s form and fitness
  • Less game time for some of the players heading into the tournament

Written by Sparsh Telang. Follow on X on @_cricketsparsh

How to watch the 2025 Champions Trophy in Australia

Charbel Coorey
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How to watch the 2025 Champions Trophy in Australia

Australia fans will need an Amazon Prime Video subscription to watch the 2025 Champions Trophy. The eight-team competition kicks off on February 19 in Pakistan.

Australians also required the same subscription to watch the 2024 T20 World Cup, part of the ICC’s broadcast deal with Amazon Prime Video for all men’s and women’s tournaments. This includes the World Test Championship Final in June, where Australia will take on South Africa at Lord’s.

Hushidar Kharas, Head of Prime Video in Australia and New Zealand, is on record of saying that fans can watch all the big matches on the platform. “Over the next four years, Prime members in Australia will be able to watch their favourite cricket teams and players compete for the game’s biggest prize, on demand, on the device of their choice—exclusively on Prime Video,” he said.

Details on how to watch the 2025 Champions Trophy in Australia

If you don’t have an Amazon Prime Video subscription, you can take advantage of a 30-day free trial that will see you to the end of the Champions Trophy. The tournament is a short one, ending on March 9.

After the free trial period ends, the cost is either AU$9.99 per month or AU$79 per year with the option to cancel anytime.

Australia fans can catch the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan and UAE on Amazon Prime Video. Here are the details.

Australia head into the tournament in shaky form after a 2-0 series defeat in Sri Lanka. If the Australians find a way to win the tournament (despite their absentees), they will hold the World Test Championship, ODI World Cup, Champions Trophy, and all bilateral Test trophies in men’s cricket.

ALSO READ: The XI Australia should go with for the Champions Trophy

The tournament kicks off with hosts and defending champions Pakistan taking on New Zealand on February 19. Australia’s first match will be against archrivals England on February 22. All matches start at 8pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT).

Reactions to Rajat Patidar named as RCB captain

Charbel Coorey
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Reactions to Rajat Patidar named as RCB captain

Rajat Patidar has been named as captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL). It is a decision that may have come as a surprise to some given Virat Kohli was widely tipped to take back the captaincy after the franchise decided not to retain Faf du Plessis, but many have also praised the move.

Patidar led Madhya Pradesh in the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), where he had a superb tournament. The batsman smashed 428 runs at an average of 61.14 and strike rate of 186.08, including five fifties in nine innings.

Speaking at an event in Bengaluru where the announcement was made, RCB coach Andy Flower said Rajat Patidar had some great qualities that swayed the franchise name him captain.

“I could speak for quite a long time about Rajat, but I’ve settled on three main things that I thought might be interesting to share,” Flower said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

“The first one is there’s a calmness and a simplicity to Rajat that I think will stand him in really good stead as a leader and a captain, particularly in the IPL.

“The second thing I’d say about him, he’s inherently quite a quiet guy, but observing him, he cares about the people around him, he cares about the people that he plays with, that he shares a dressing room with.

“And then the third thing that stands out for me about him is that he’s got a stubbornness and a strength and a steeliness about him. I’ve seen it myself when I’m trying to coach him in the nets and he won’t listen to me, but you see it in the way that he plays. You see the bravery with which he takes on the game and I think that quality within him will be really important for him through the ups and downs, the inevitable ups and downs that come along with playing in the IPL, and now stepping up another gear into leading a big franchise in the IPL.”

Reactions: Virat Kohli and fans react to RCB naming Rajat Patidar as captain for IPL 2025

Virat Kohli congratulated Rajat Patidar on his appointment as captain of the franchise. Kohli, who captained RCB in 143 games, asked everyone to get behind Patidar and support him.

“The way you have grown in this franchise and the way you have performed, you have really made a place in the hearts of all the fans of RCB all over India and they get really excited to watch you play,” Kohli said in a video released by RCB. “I’ve seen Rajat evolve in the last couple of years as a player. He has got the chance to play for India. His game has improved many levels in the last couple of years.

“The way he has led his state team as well and the responsibility that he’s taken and has shown everyone that he has what it takes to lead this amazing franchise and I just wish him all the very best and I would request all the fans to show him absolute support, get right behind him and know that he will always and always do what’s best for the team, what’s best for this franchise.”

Fans took to social media to share their thoughts on the decision by RCB. There were debates as to whether he is the right candidate, with eyes firmly on RCB as they seek their first IPL men’s title.

RCB will begin their IPL 2025 campaign against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on March 22.

Australia should go with this XI for the Champions Trophy

Charbel Coorey
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Australia should go with this XI for the Champions Trophy

Australia’s short preparation for the Champions Trophy started in shaky fashion, losing by 49 runs against Sri Lanka in Colombo. In addition to the injuries and withdrawals from their initial squad, it was a new-look team at Colombo with Jake Fraser-McGurk and Cooper Connolly handed opportunities with Travis Head, Josh Inglis and Glenn Maxwell rested.

Australia were unable to seal the Sri Lankan innings after reducing the hosts to 135/8, followed by a batting innings filled with rash strokeplay. The defeat served as a reminder of the task awaiting Australia in the coming weeks, but with a number of key players to slot in, there is still reason to be optimistic with the talent available.

Here is the final squad after Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis were all omitted for various reasons.

Squad: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey,  Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa. Travelling reserve: Cooper Connolly.

Going off the squad and the conditions teams will face in the Champions Trophy, here is my view on Australia’s best XI for the tournament.

Ideal Australia XI for the Champions Trophy: 1. Travis Head, 2. Josh Inglis, 3. Steve Smith (c), 4. Alex Carey (wk), 5. Marnus Labuschagne, 6. Aaron Hardie, 7. Glenn Maxwell, 8. Sean Abbott/Ben Dwarshuis, 9. Nathan Ellis, 10. Adam Zampa, 11. Spencer Johnson

Josh Inglis and Alex Carey are two of Australia’s in-form batters and better players of spin. Inglis has impressed his limited opportunities as an ODI opener, and looks a more reliable option than Matt Short who is yet to find his feet in the format. It is the case even more so for Jake Fraser-McGurk.

Of course, Short can be an excellent option with his all-round game. However, his inclusion could have knock-on effects with any of the following possible:

  • One of Alex Carey or Josh Inglis missing out
  • Marnus Labuschagne missing out
  • Aaron Hardie missing out

On Alex Carey, there is the argument one shouldn’t mix formats. The left-hander has been strong in red-ball cricket since the start of the 2024/25 Australian season. However, he was also terrific in the ODIs in England last year, hitting 164 runs at 82.00, including a matchwinning 74 at Leeds.

Carey also offers a proactive option in the middle against spin. While his dismissal in the first ODI against Sri Lanka was disappointing, he was looking excellent up until that point for his 41.

Aaron Hardie produced a promising performance in the first Sri Lanka ODI and gives Australia another seam-bowling option, which can come very handy with all the experience missing. His 2/13 and 32 (37) provides a glimpse of what he is capable of, but conditions may determine whether he or Matt Short are selected if both Inglis and Carey are in the XI.

With Marnus Labuschagne regularly backed by the team management, we can expect him to be in the XI. Plus, his greater experience can come in handy. However, he needs to find runs and fast.

On the bowling front, Nathan Ellis now has a vital role as arguably the leader of the attack. Spencer Johnson and Sean Abbott are the other two best frontline seam options in the squad. That being said, Ben Dwarshuis can find a spot if he performs well in Sri Lanka (if selected). Adam Zampa, Glenn Maxwell and Travis Head can provide the spin.

Verdict

With so much quality and experience unavailable, Australia faces an uphill task in the Champions Trophy. However, it is an opportunity for players to perform and make a name for themselves in international cricket.

The XI above gives Australia the most balance. They need a platform for the likes of Glenn Maxwell to finish strongly. With Travis Head and Josh Inglis up top, Australia have a duo that can complement each other perfectly and provide a strong start. Smith, Carey and Labuschagne can then consolidate, setting things up for the finish.

With the ball, it remains to be seen how effective this new-look attack will be on good batting conditions. So, wickets up top will be vital, while Adam Zampa needs to be at his wicket-taking best in the middle to keep teams in check.

Australia begin their Champions Trophy campaign against England on February 22 at Lahore.

Can India win the 2025 Champions Trophy without Jasprit Bumrah?

Charbel Coorey
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Can India win the 2025 Champions Trophy without Jasprit Bumrah?

Jasprit Bumrah has been officially ruled out of the 2025 Champions Trophy due to a stress reaction in his back suffered during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. As reported by ESPNcricinfo, Bumrah was asked to rest for five weeks following the series and is yet to fully recover from the discomfort despite scans not showing anything major.

Bumrah’s absence represents a huge gap for India to fill in their quest to seal their second ICC trophy in eight months after winning the T20 World Cup in June 2024. Bumrah was crucial in India’s triumph in the USA and West Indies, taking 15 wickets at an average of 8.26 and economy of 4.17, including a matchwinning performance under pressure in the final against South Africa.

India with huge gap to fill as Jasprit Bumrah ruled out of 2025 Champions Trophy

India have quality death overs pretty much guaranteed when Bumrah is in the XI. Former coach Ravi Shastri believes India’s chances of winning the Champions Trophy reduce by a third with no Jasprit Bumrah available.

“Bumrah not fit will reduce India’s chances [of winning the Champions Trophy] by 30%, literally by 30-35%,” Shastri said on The ICC Review earlier this month.

“With a fully fit Bumrah playing, you are guaranteed of those death overs. It would’ve been a different ball game altogether.”

Since his ODI debut in 2016, Bumrah concedes a remarkable 5.78 per over between overs 41 and 50. Given the sharp rise in 400+ totals as the influence of T20 cricket has continued to grow, Bumrah’s numbers are simply staggering.

In fact, Bumrah has been outstanding in all phases of an innings in ODIs:

PhaseWicketsAverageEconomy
Overs 1-104528.53.96
Overs 11-403433.74.54
Overs 41-507015.45.78

However, India can hold hope of winning the tournament even without their talisman. Their batting depth can either give them plenty of runs to defend or the ability to chase larger totals. Also, a number of teams are missing star players themselves, most notably Australia.

But, the decision by India to not pick Mohammed Siraj has not sat well with some fans. In his ODI career, Siraj has taken 41 wickets between overs 1 and 10 at an average of 18.9 and economy of 4.38. Instead, the team management opted for Harshit Rana with an eye for more wickets in the middle overs.

India’s campaign begins against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20. They remain favourites to take out the tournament as their batting remains strong and their spinners possess plenty of quality.

Also, the output of other teams is up in the air. Australia are without their top three fast bowlers. Pakistan will be without Saim Ayub and the makeup of their bowling attack remains in question. England have struggled in ODI cricket over the past couple of years, while South Africa have the mental burden of getting over the line in an ICC tournament.

The leaves New Zealand, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The Black Caps have injury concerns of their own in Lockie Ferguson and Rachin Ravindra. Bangladesh are facing an uphill task with experienced players no longer around. Afghanistan are a dangerous team, but whether they have the depth to test India in the business end of the tournament might be a bridge too far.

So, while a tournament victory for India will be more difficult to achieve without Bumrah, it is possible. Should Rohit Sharma’s team reach the final, the match will be played in the UAE on Sunday March 9. Time will tell how they go.

Ellyse Perry interview: RCB has great and passionate fans

Arvind Kalyana Krishnan
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Ellyse Perry interview: RCB has great and passionate fans

The Women’s Premier League 2025 is all set to start from February 15. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Women are slated to face Gujarat Giants Women in the season opener. It goes without saying that Ellyse Perry was one of the major reasons why the defending champions were able to win their maiden title during the previous edition, as she played an instrumental role behind helping the Bangalore-based franchise get their hands on the title.

Perry is unarguably one of the greatest cricketers of all time. Moreover, she is also one of the most loved female cricketers. Despite not being in the best of form of late, she still managed to win an award during the recently-concluded Australian Cricket Awards – the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) player of the tournament.

During an exclusive interview with Arvind Kalyana Krishnan for CricBlog, Ellyse Perry spoke about the love she gets in India, as well as the support she gets from the fans in Bengaluru. The legendary all-rounder drew light on RCB fans while acknowledging their passion. Perry has a huge fan base in India and one of the most popular female cricketers in India.

Perry also spoke about Shreyanka Patil and her charismatic nature. While stating that she isn’t active on social media, the Aussie did mention the fact that Shreyanka was a “bubbly” character. During the 2024 edition of the WPL, the Indian offie was a part of several reels and videos pertaining to RCB and Perry, which went viral. Besides, Shreyanka is popular for her entertaining shenanigans on social media. Thus, Perry highlighted the same too.

Ellyse Perry interview: You can’t hear anything except the crowd when playing for RCB

Below is the video, audio and transcript of our chat with Ellyse Perry at the Australian Cricket Awards

Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: You have a lot of fans and admirers in India, and whenever you go and play over there, you get a lot of support and love. So what are your feelings towards the fans in India and Bengaluru?

Ellyse Perry: Very fond feelings. Great fan base for RCB. They’re incredibly passionate about the men’s and women’s side and it’s just really nice to….. whenever we play there to know that we’re gonna have a packed crowd and it’s hard to hear anything other than the fans cheering, which is special.

Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: Shreyanka Patil makes a lot of content for Bengaluru. So have you ever managed to see any of that?

Ellyse Perry: (Laughs) No, I don’t really use social media…..But knowing Shreyanka, she’s a great personality, and she’s got a lot of bubbly energy. So not surprised she does a lot of content

IND vs ENG 2nd ODI reactions: Rohit Sharma 119 delivers series win

Charbel Coorey
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IND vs ENG 2nd ODI reactions: Rohit Sharma 119 delivers series win

Rohit Sharma has found form ahead of the Champions Trophy, hitting a magnificent 119 off 90 balls in India’s series-sealing four-wicket win against England at Cuttack. It had been a challenging few months for Rohit in Tests, but a return to ODIs reminded one and all of just how fantastic he is in this format.

His dominant knock in Cuttack was his 22nd since turning 30 – the most ever. He is now just 13 away from 11,000 ODI runs and is currently averaging 49.26 with a strike rate of 92.70. From the first over where he displayed confidence in defence against good bowling from Saqib Mahmood, Rohit was in control.

A floodlight failure did little to break his early momentum. After hitting three sixes to go past Chris Gayle’s 331, Rohit never looked back. In fact, since February 2022, Rohit has smashed 94 sixes in 39 innings, with a total of 1,782 runs at an average of 50.91 and strike rate of 118.95. Only Heinrich Klaasen, Shubman Gill, Travis Head and Shreyas Iyer are the other players to average 50+ and strike at 100+ in this period.

For England, the concerns grow. This is now their sixth defeat in seven matches on tour, and they seem bereft of ideas on how to approach the ODI format currently. They do have the talent to cause problems for opponents in the Champions Trophy, but will their lack of team balance come back to bite in Pakistan as it has in India?

Reactions to Rohit Sharma’s excellent 119 (90) to seal ODI series against England

“If Rohit Sharma can bat like this at the Champions Trophy, India become a different beast to play against. He has looked in command in this innings,” wrote Harsha Bhogle on X. Indeed, if Jasprit Bumrah doesn’t end up playing, India will welcome such form from Rohit on a regular basis.

In the end, India chased England’s 304 with four wickets and 33 balls to spare. Here are some of the reactions from Rohit’s innings.

India and England will face off at Ahmedabad in the third ODI on February 12. India then begin their Champions Trophy campaign on February 20 against Bangladesh in Dubai, while England face archrivals Australia on February 22 at Lahore.

Bangladesh 2025 Champions Trophy Squad SWOT Analysis: Underachievement again for the Tigers?

Sparsh Telang
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Bangladesh 2025 Champions Trophy Squad SWOT Analysis: Underachievement again for the Tigers?

Bangladesh 2025 Champions Trophy squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Towhid Hridoy, Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan, Nahid Rana

Bangladesh in ODIs since the 2023 ODI World Cup

Matches played: 12
Matches won: 4
Matches lost: 8
W/L ratio: 0.500
Batting run rate: 5.58

Bangladesh 2025 Champions Trophy squad analysis: The Tigers have been indifferent in ODIs since the 2023 WC.

Most runs for Bangladesh in ODIs since the 2023 World Cup:

  1. Soumya Sarkar (LHB): 430 runs, AVG: 43.00, SR: 93.68, 100s: 1, 50s: 2
  2. Najmul Hossain Shanto (LHB): 358 runs, AVG: 59.66, SR: 84.43, 100s: 1, 50s: 2
  3. Mehidy Hasan Miraz (RHB): 352 runs, AVG: 39.11, SR: 72.27, 100s: 0, 50s: 3
  4. Mahmudullah (RHB): 337 runs, AVG: 48.14, SR: 95.19, 100s: 0, 50s: 3

Most wickets for Bangladesh in ODIs since the 2023 World Cup:

  1. Taskin Ahmed (right-arm pace): 14 wickets, AVG: 23.92, ECO: 5.31
  2. Shoriful Islam (left-arm pace): 13 wickets, AVG: 34.30, ECO: 5.33
  3. Mustafizur Rahman (left-arm pace): 11 wickets, AVG: 24.27, ECO: 5.37

Bangladesh 2025 Champions Trophy Squad SWOT Analysis: Can the Tigers spring a surprise?

Shakib and Litton left out of the squad

The biggest news surrounding Bangladesh’s squad announcement has been the high-profile axing of Litton Das.

Bangladesh’s chief selector, Gazi Ashraf Hossain, explained Litton’s exclusion, stating: “Litton is out of form. He keeps getting out in a similar manner and struggles to capitalise during the powerplay in the white-ball format. He’s unable to stay at the crease and is being consistently exposed. Opposition analysts have been increasingly successful against him. We gave him multiple chances, but there isn’t much trust left.

“We’ve taken Litton’s past performances into account, especially his recent form. It became difficult to have confidence in him when he failed to score runs in the West Indies, while the other batters contributed to big totals. We’ll be playing on good batting wickets in Rawalpindi. New Zealand lost there despite posting 336, so we need in-form top-order batters.”

Bangladesh 2025 Champions Trophy SWOT Analysis: Litton Das endured a terrible run of form.

While Litton’s recent numbers are undeniably poor, he remains one of Bangladesh’s top batting talents, and it could be argued that he still could’ve made the squad.

Besides Litton, Shakib Al Hasan also missed out on selection after failing a second independent assessment of his bowling action. His exclusion from the squad likely signals the end of the 37-year-old’s ODI career.

“There is problem with his [Shakib] bowling action as it is negative,” Ashraf said. “We have thought about him only as a batsman but could not give him a place in the combination only as a batsman.”

Bangladesh’s Revitalised Pace Attack

Bangladesh’s pace attack is on the rise, with a newfound surplus of resources. Taskin leads the charge, while Mustafizur remains a white-ball mainstay. They also have the 22-year-old Nahid Rana, their latest pace sensation, and Tanzim Hasan, who brings his own unique strengths. Meanwhile, players like Shoriful, Ebadot and Hasan Mahmud haven’t even made the squad.

In Taskin, Bangladesh have a tall 6’ 2’’ tall hit-the-deck seamer who’s more than handy with the new ball. The contrast in his numbers before and after 2023 highlights how he has evolved recently, emerging as one of the more exciting pacers in world cricket.

Taskin will likely be complemented by the even quicker and taller Nahid Rana, an out-and-out fast bowler from Chapainawabganj who debuted early last year and showed impressive improvement throughout the year. Rana, who can consistently bowl at 145kph and maintain his pace for long periods, is Bangladesh’s fastest bowler ever. He played key roles in Bangladesh’s historic first-ever Test series win against Pakistan and their first Test victory in the West Indies since 2009.

Rana will be competing with Tanzim Hasan, who can also bowl over 140kph and has an elbow hyperextension, for the third seamer spot, with the experienced Mustafizur locked in as the second seamer.

Spin Concerns: Can Bangladesh Find Answers Without Shakib?

While Bangladesh’s fast-bowling resources appear settled, their spin attack, in contrast, is an area of concern, especially with Shakib Al Hasan absent.

Bangladesh have finally found a wrist spinner in Rishad Hossain — who also adds value in the lower order, making him an exciting prospect — but he remains raw, often erring in his length by being either too full or too short. Mehidy’s bowling form has also been off; he’s averaging 56.22 in 12 ODIs since the World Cup. Although Nasum Ahmed offers some useful left-arm spin, the spin department as a whole doesn’t seem threatening enough.

Top Order Woes for Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s top order has been a concern over the past couple of years, to the point that the selectors recently held a meeting with Tamim Iqbal ahead of the squad announcement to discuss his potential comeback.

The 24-year-old Tanzid Hasan, nicknamed Tamim, was selected ahead of the experienced Tamim Iqbal for the 2023 World Cup but has struggled to establish himself at the top of the order since then. The encouraging sign is that he scored the second-most runs in the 2025 Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), and Bangladesh will hope he can carry that form into the Champions Trophy.

Meanwhile, his opening partner, Soumya Sarkar, has also struggled with consistency in this format and is returning after a finger injury. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, the only Bangladesh batter to score multiple hundreds and over 1,000 runs in ODIs since 2023, occupies the No. 3 spot, creating a top three of left-handers and leaving the top order vulnerable to off-spin.

Data suggests that they may also struggle against left-arm new-ball pace.

Bangladesh 2025 Champions Trophy SWOT Analysis: Bangladesh’s top three against left-arm pace in the powerplay in ODIs

Middle Order Reshuffle: Injury Returns and Form Concerns

With Mushfiqur and Hridoy recovering from their respective injuries and set to return to the team, they should slot back into the middle order, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz likely returning to No. 7. Mahmudullah, who has scores of 98, 50*, 62 and 84* in his last 4 ODIs, will round out the batting lineup. It’s harsh that Jaker Ali, who has been one of their better batters in recent times, will likely end up on the bench.

While Mushfiqur is a fine player of spin and can be especially valuable for a subcontinent tournament, his recent ODI appearances have been limited, and his form over the past couple of years has not been up to his usual standards. He isn’t getting any younger either. Towhid Hridoy, regarded as one of Bangladesh’s most promising young batters and an X-factor in white-ball cricket, has also been in patchy form of late.

A major concern for the batting lineup is their ability to handle short-pitched fast bowling, a weakness that was exposed during the 2023 World Cup. Besides, they could also struggle with maintaining a healthy scoring rate.

Bangladesh Predicted Starting XI for the 2025 Champions Trophy

1. Tanzid Hasan, 2. Soumya Sarkar, 3. Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), 4. Towhid Hridoy, 5. Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 6. Mahmudullah, 7. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 8. Rishad Hossain/Nasum Ahmed, 9. Taskin Ahmed, 10. Nahid Rana/Tanzim Hasan Sakib, 11. Mustafizur Rahman

Bangladesh Squad SWOT Summary

Strengths:

  • A potent fast-bowling unit led by Taskin.
  • Experience in the middle order.
  • Good form of captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and the experienced Mahmudullah.

Weaknesses:

  • Struggles with consistency and form in the top order.
  • Fragile spin options in the absence of Shakib.
  • Vulnerability to short-pitched bowling and left-arm new-ball pace.
  • Potential difficulty in maintaining competitive scoring rates.
  • All left-handers are stacked together in the top order, while all right-handers are clumped in the middle order.

Opportunities:

  • Chance for young pacers like Nahid Rana and Tanzim Hasan to establish themselves on the international stage.
  • A short tournament increases unpredictability, where a few good days could propel them to the last-four stage.

Threats:

  • Rawalpindi being a high-scoring venue could put further pressure on their batting.
  • Arguably the weakest team in the group.
  • Injury to injury-prone Taskin, who is Bangladesh’s best bowler.

Written by Sparsh Telang. Follow on X on @_cricketsparsh

Afghanistan 2025 Champions Trophy Squad SWOT Analysis: Another great tournament awaits?

Sparsh Telang
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Afghanistan 2025 Champions Trophy Squad SWOT Analysis: Another great tournament awaits?

Afghanistan 2025 Champions Trophy squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran

Afghanistan in ODIs since the 2023 World Cup

  • Matches played: 14
  • Matches won: 8
  • Matches lost: 5
  • No result: 1
  • W/L ratio: 1.600
  • Batting run rate: 5.30

Most runs for Afghanistan in ODIs since the 2023 World Cup:

  1. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (RHB): 531 runs, AVG: 48.27, SR: 89.69, 100s: 3, 50s: 2
  2. Azmatullah Omarzai (RHB): 417 runs, AVG: 52.12, SR: 105.56, 100s: 1, 50s: 3
  3. Mohammad Nabi (RHB): 410 runs, AVG: 41.00, SR: 97.85, 100s: 1, 50s: 1

Most wickets for Afghanistan in ODIs since the 2023 World Cup:

  1. Allah Ghazanfar (right-arm off-break): 21 wickets, AVG: 13.57, ECO: 4.05
  2. Azmatullah Omarzai (right-arm pace): 17 wickets, AVG: 20.47, ECO: 4.90
  3. Rashid Khan (right-arm legspin): 15 wickets, AVG: 12.46, ECO: 3.49

Afghanistan 2025 Champions Trophy Squad SWOT Analysis: Talented team prepares for CT Debut

This will be Afghanistan’s first-ever appearance in the Champions Trophy. “Conditions in Pakistan are similar to those in Afghanistan and the UAE, where we often play. We plan to hold a preparation camp in multiple phases before heading out for the big event. The expectations are high, and I am confident the team will prepare well and deliver excellent performances, just as they did in the last two World Cups [50-over World Cup in 2023 and T20 World Cup in 2024],” said Ahmad Suliman Khil, ACB interim chief selector.

Hashmatullah Shahidi, who captained Afghanistan in the 2023 ODI World Cup and more recently led the team to the semi-finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup, will continue to serve as captain.

Afghanistan’s players will collaborate with former Pakistan batter Younis Khan, who has been appointed as the team’s mentor for the Champions Trophy. This is the third consecutive global tournament where the ACB has selected a mentor from the host nation: Ajay Jadeja was brought in for the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, and Dwayne Bravo served as the bowling consultant for the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA.

“The appointment of mentors has proven to be quite beneficial for us in both of the last two events,” ACB chairman Mirwais Ashraf said. “Given this success, we have appointed Mr. Younis Khan, who has extensive international and local experience, and we look forward to making full use of his expertise during the event.”

Ibrahim Returns, but Top Four Faces Challenges

Ibrahim Zadran, who hasn’t played for Afghanistan since slipping during practice on a slushy patch before the washed-out Greater Noida Test, has regained his fitness and will return to open the batting alongside Gurbaz.

A look at Afghanistan ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy: Can they have another great ICC tournament after the 2023 and 2024 World Cups?
Afghanistan 2025 Champions Trophy squad analysis: AFG typically take their time to get settled.

Since the start of the 2023 World Cup, only the Netherlands’ openers have been slower than Afghanistan’s (among teams that participated in the tournament). They have prioritised solidity over explosiveness, as reflected in their average and scoring rate, which isn’t a big concern.

The far bigger issue, however, is their No. 3 (Rahmat Shah) and No. 4 (Hashmatullah Shahidi), both of whom have scored at a strike rate of under 70 in ODIs since the World Cup ended. Rahmat Shah, in particular, is averaging a modest 27.10 in ODIs since the start of 2023. While he is still likely to start, the 23-year-old Sediqullah Atal, who has had a standout few months across formats and was named Player of the Series against Zimbabwe in December, will put pressure on his place in the side.

Gurbaz’s Wicketkeeping Role and Batting Impact

Rahmanullah Gurbaz averages 54 when batting first in ODIs, compared to just 20.95 while chasing. Six of his eight ODI centuries have come while batting first. Few surmise that it’s because he doesn’t fancy batting right after keeping wickets for 50 overs. There may be some truth to this, as he averages 45.35 when playing solely as a batter, compared to 36.58 as a keeper-batter.

A look at Afghanistan ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy: Can they have another great ICC tournament after the 2023 and 2024 World Cups?
Afghanistan 2025 Champions Trophy squad analysis: Should Rahmanullah Gurbaz keep wickets?

Hence, there may be discussions about fielding Ikram Alikhil in the middle order in place of Gulbadin Naib. However, it will be hard to overlook Naib, given his recent form in the ILT20, where he is currently averaging nearly 47.00 and striking at almost 160.

Afghanistan’s Depth Enhanced by Multi-Skilled Players

One of their key strengths is the depth they possess in both departments, thanks to several multi-skilled players in the lineup. From No. 5 to No. 8, every player is capable of contributing with both bat and ball, which is an immense luxury. Azmatullah Omarzai, in fact, won the ODI Player of the Year award in 2024 and has been in outstanding form in this format. Veteran Nabi has also been contributing with fine performances in the lower order.

Overall, Afghanistan have made significant progress as a batting unit, with their dot-ball percentages and balls-per-boundary figures decreasing in recent years.

However, one point to note is that Afghanistan’s batting lineup is predominantly right-handed, with Shahidi – who isn’t exactly the most destructive against spin – being the only lefty, making them vulnerable to left-arm spin and quality legspin.

Afghanistan’s Bowling Arsenal: Spin and Seam Options Galore

Afghanistan’s spin bowling has always been a strength, and it remains so this time, even in Mujeeb’s absence. According to ACB interim chief selector Ahmad Suliman Khil, “Mujeeb Ur Rahman was not available for selection as his doctor has advised him to focus on T20s for a while to ensure a full recovery before returning to ODIs. This was also the reason he missed the recently concluded ODI series against Zimbabwe.”

With Rashid, Ghazanfar, Noor, and Nabi, they have four high-quality spinners, each offering a distinct skill set. And there’s a good chance that all four will play together, choking the opposition with their combined threat. In Fazalhaq Farooqi and Azmatullah Omarzai, Afghanistan also have two excellent new-ball bowlers who can swing the new-ball both ways and take wickets up front. Naib provides a third seam-bowling option, though he won’t be needed much. Should conditions require a proper third seamer, Afghanistan have the likes of Naveed Zadran and Farid Malik on the bench.

Afghanistan Predicted Starting XI for the 2025 Champions Trophy

1. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2. Ibrahim Zadran, 3. Rahmat Shah, 4. Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), 5. Azmatullah Omarzai, 6. Mohammad Nabi, 7. Gulbadin Naib, 8. Rashid Khan, 9. Allah Ghazanfar, 10. Noor Ahmad, 11. Fazalhaq Farooqi

Afghanistan SWOT Summary

Strengths:

  • Excellent depth in both departments, thanks to multiple multi-skilled players.
  • Dynamic and high-quality spin attack.
  • Potent new-ball duo capable of providing early breakthroughs.
  • Solid opening combination.
  • Threatening bowling attack throughout all phases.

Weaknesses:

  • Scoring rate of the top four, especially Rahmat and Hashmatullah.
  • RHB-dominant batting lineup susceptible to left-arm spin and legspin.
  • Gurbaz’s weak second-innings record makes them vulnerable in chases.

Opportunities:

  • After back-to-back strong showings in the World Cup, an opportunity to make an impact in their debut Champions Trophy appearance.
  • Leverage Younis Khan’s experience and mentorship to gain tactical advantage.

Threats:

  • Placed in a tough group, facing strong opposition in every match.
  • Often falter in closing out games against top teams despite dominating positions.

Written by Sparsh Telang. Follow on X on @_cricketsparsh

Ryan Rickelton: T20s are more difficult than Tests

Charbel Coorey
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Ryan Rickelton: T20s are more difficult than Tests

South Africa and MI Cape Town batsman Ryan Rickelton, who recently hit 259 in a Test against Pakistan, believes T20 cricket is tougher than the longest format of the game.

Speaking ahead of the SA20 2025 Final, Rickelton said that while Test cricket has its challenges, T20 requires you to be on point every single ball.

“I grew up wanting to be a Test player and thought that in T20, you can just whack a few, but T20 cricket is flipping hard. It’s different, but it is harder,” Rickelton said, speaking to ESPNcricinfo.

You can bide your time more in Tests – Ryan Rickelton

Explaining why, Rickelton, who has ten Tests and 65 First Class matches under his belt, said there is pressure on every delivery in T20s. If there is a little period where the scoring slows down, there is that anxiety that builds.

“Test cricket is very hard, but with T20s, there’s a lot more pressure on every delivery. In Test cricket, you can bide your time and work your way through it at a lower intensity. In T20s, you’ve got to score [off] every ball,” Rickelton said.

“There’s always pressure on you, internally, externally, there’s more detailed analysis on you as a player, and against your opposition. They’re always trying to hit your weaknesses. There’s a lot more to it than it seems.”

Travis Head shared similar thoughts during Australia’s limited overs tour of the UK in 2024. Speaking to Sky Sports before the second ODI against England at Leeds, Head said the shorter the format, the tougher it is.

“This is going to sound weird, but the shorter the format the tougher for me. I find T20 the hardest because there’s run rate, there’s pressure to score, there’s expectation every time you go out you have to strike rate 130, 140, 150. That’s going north as everyone’s trying to hit them further” Head said.

“Test cricket I find somewhat the easiest because if I’m not feeling great, I can go as slow as I want and if I’m feeling really good, I can go as fast as I want. There’s no barriers to what you can do.” Head continued.

“From the playing side of things, I enjoy Test cricket the most and I find it somewhat the easiest. It’s the toughest in terms of conditions and technique and all those things, but the expectation is something that is always there in white-ball cricket.”

Rickelton has come of age as a T20 batter. He topped the run-scoring charts in SA20 2024 (530) and has also enjoyed a solid 2025 campaign with 303 runs at a strike rate of 175.14. He and Rassie van der Dussen have been key in leading MI Cape Town to the final.

Now, Rickelton is keen to experience the IPL, where he will be part of the Mumbai Indians squad in 2025.

“I’m not sure what to expect. I’ve chatted to lots of guys about the IPL and you hear all these things and you think, ‘This is big boy stuff.’ I’m probably a little bit nervous of how the whole two or three months are going to play out. But you never know if you have a good two months here anything can happen,” he said.

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