INDIA'S LIKELY CHAMPIONS TROPHY SQUAD: BUMRAH TO BE PICKED, NO PLACE FOR SAMSON, NAIR

India's Champions Trophy squad is set to be announced on Saturday, January 18. Ajit Agarkar, chairman of the senior selection committee, will address a press conference in the afternoon to reveal the 15-member squad for the prestigious eight-team 50-over tournament. The Champions Trophy is scheduled to take place from February 19 to March 9 across three venues in Pakistan and the UAE.

The selection committee is scheduled to hold a virtual discussion with captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir on Friday evening, sources told Sports Today, a sister channel of India Today. The selection meeting will commence at 12 pm IST on Saturday, with Agarkar expected to address the media at 2 pm IST in Mumbai.

While the usual suspects, including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul, are expected to feature in the squad, sources have indicated that Jasprit Bumrah is also likely to be included. However, Bumrah's participation in the tournament is subject to fitness. 

Bumrah suffered a back spasm during the final Test of the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The pacer was taken for scans after experiencing discomfort on Day 2 of the Sydney Test. Although the BCCI did not disclose the full extent of his injury, Bumrah was unable to bowl during the last two days of the match, which India lost by six wickets.

Sources say the selectors want Bumrah to play at least one competitive match before the Champions Trophy to assess his fitness and make a final decision. Only Thursday, Bumrah laughed off reports that suggested he needed bed rest after consultation with experts. 

NO KARUN NAIR, SANJU SAMSON

Meanwhile, selectors are reportedly reluctant to include Karun Nair in the Champions Trophy squad despite his stellar performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India's premier domestic 50-over tournament. Karun amassed an impressive 752 runs in seven matches, including five centuries, and played a pivotal role in guiding Vidarbha to the final. His 44-ball 88 in the semi-final against Maharashtra showcased his ability as a finisher. 

However, selectors believe it would be unwise to recall Nair, who last represented India in 2017, just before a major tournament. While Nair is 33, the Karnataka batter also will find it difficult to secure a spot in the middle order in the ODI set-up amid intense competition. 

Sanju Samson is also unlikely to feature in the Champions Trophy squad. The Kerala wicketkeeper-batter, who has been selected for India's upcoming five-match T20I series against England starting 22 January, missed the Vijay Hazare Trophy due to his decision not to attend a training camp with Kerala. Samson opted to remain in Dubai, leading to his exclusion from the state team for the domestic tournament.

India last played ODIs in August 2024 against Sri Lanka in the island nation. That series marked the debut of coach Gautam Gambhir alongside captain Rohit Sharma, but India suffered a disappointing 0-2 defeat to the lower-ranked team. 

The decisions of the selection committee will be closely monitored, especially in light of mounting pressure on the Indian team following their Border-Gavaskar Trophy loss, which exposed divisions within the dressing room.

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2025-01-17T13:31:12Z