India have brought in Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami as Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to bat first in their first Group A match of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday. India enters as one of the favourites to win the eight-team competition, though Bangladesh can spring a surprise. After winning the toss, Shanto said he is very happy with the preparation and said their bowling combination is three seamers and two spinners. “Looks a good wicket so we want to put runs on the board. We have play good cricket today and the boys are confident,” he said.

India skipper Rohit Sharma said he would have fielded first. As for team changes, he says Jadeja and Shami come back in place of Washington Sundar and Arshdeep Singh.

“We have played a few years back here so we felt ball comes on better under lights. All looking good. Everyone is fit and fine to go. Let’s hope we start well. There is no looking back, every game becomes very important in this tournament,” he said.

Thursday’s match will be played on a fresh pitch, with no dew sighted this year as the game progressed into evening. The straight boundary down the ground is at 82 m straight, while square boundaries are 74 m and 62 m, respectively.

Playing XIs

India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, and Kuldeep Yadav

Bangladesh: Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Jaker Ali, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, and Mustafizur Rahman

The Champions Trophy 2025 starts from Wednesday with a match between Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi. The tournament holds special importance for Pakistan for it is the first major ICC event that Pakistan will host in a long time. The Champions Trophy 2025 is also important for Pakistan’s arch-rivals India. The team has been dealt quite a few big losses in the last few months. Hence, the Champions Trophy 2025 will be a big opportunity for the Rohit Sharma-led side to redeem itself.  

The tournament will be Rohit’s 17th appearance in an ICC event. Ahead of the Champions Trophy, the BCCI released a video of behind-the-scenes conversation as Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja and Shubman Gill talked about their ICC event exploits. “This is my 17th appearance. Nine T20 World Cups, three 50-overs World Cup. That’s 12; and two Champions Trophies. That’s 14. And two World Test Championships. Make that 17,” Rohit told Jadeja. 

Rohit’s first ICC event was the 2007 T20 World Cup in South Africa and has since featured in all editions since then – 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2021, 2022, 2024. Rohit has been part of India’s 50-overs World Cup campaigns in 2015, 2019 and 2023. He featured in 2013 and 2017 Champions Trophy. 

Then, Jadeja asked Shubman Gill about his ICC event list. “Me? I played the 2023 World Cup, was part of the 2024 one, and now this is my third. No wait, two WTC finals too. So that’s five,” Gill said. 

Jadeja replied: “I have 15-plus. You know how many Rohit has? He has just 9 T20 World Cups. Virat could have more.” 

Jadeja’s reply had Gill visibly in awe.  

For India’s batting talismans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the Champions Trophy 2025 will be a crucial one with question marks over their international career growing by the day. They have been magnificent servants of the game over the last decade and half.

Few in modern era were able to match their achievements and aura. But now, these two titans have reached the last lap of a long race, and would want to bow out in a blaze of glory.

It’s tough to imagine Kohli and Rohit being part of India’s ODI set-up after the Champions Trophy irrespective of the outcome.

It might even impact their future in Test cricket, as a lukewarm outing here might force the selectors to mull over their role ahead of India’s tour to England in June.

Similarly, a failure to win the Champions Trophy will bring the role of head coach Gautam Gambhir under scrutiny.

Gambhir might have received a temporary relief after India’s domination over England in the recent home series, but not it wouldn’t be enough to brush under the carpet, India’s recent travails against New Zealand and Australia.

But a global trophy will certainly give him a much better ground to stand.

From a team perspective, India will be eager to wrest their first ICC trophy in the 50-over format after their triumph in the 2013 Champions Trophy under the enigmatic Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

It will be a perfect parting gift to Kohli and Rohit and a welcome carpet to some young names such as Shubman Gill who are set to take India into the future.

 

India, the reigning ICC Men’s T20 World Cup winners, enter the Champions Trophy with a 3-0 series sweep over England. The batters impressed with their scintillating knocks, while the bowlers were at their proficient best to bamboozle the England batters. With all their matches in Dubai, India will be keen to continue the good momentum they have right now into going all the way towards the Champions Trophy. Here’s a SWOT analysis from IANS on the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team taking part in the Champions Trophy happening for the first time after 2017.

Strength: Undoubtedly, India’s main strength lies in their top four powerful batters. Captain Rohit Sharma showed parks of his ultra-attacking way of playing in the first ten overs while hitting 119 in Cuttack, while Shubman Gill stepped up to hit a fine century in Ahmedabad. The Rohit-Gill opening combination has been the most productive pairing for India.

Since joining forces in 2023, Rohit and Gill have made 1874 runs as an opening pair in 27 innings, averaging 72.07, including six 100-plus and 11 fifty-plus stands, making for a highly useful opening combination for the Indian team in 50-over cricket.

Virat Kohli also got a fifty in Ahmedabad to add more confidence in India’s ability to control middle overs with the bat, while Shreyas Iyer has stepped up as a very solid number four batter. With Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja batting deep and in good current all-round form, it augurs well for the Indian team in their quest to register competitive scores in Dubai.

Weakness: With no Jasprit Bumrah, it means India are without a game-changing fast-bowling force who could turn around the game in a jiffy in any phase of the game. His absence is a body blow for India, as they would look up to Pandya, Mohammed Shami, Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh to step up.

Another pocket of weakness India have is diluting the powers of KL Rahul. It’s no secret that Rahul has been a handy run-scorer at number five. But with head coach Gautam Gambhir’s liking for left-right combination taking precedence, it has meant Axar has batted at that slot.

Rahul, meanwhile, has been pushed to number six, a place where his recent returns have gone down. A decision like this might backfire if India collapses like a pack of cards in the quest of getting fast runs in their batting innings.

Opportunity: India last won the Champions Trophy in 2013, when MS Dhoni was at the helm. Since then, they have reached two semi-finals and as many finals in 50-over ICC events. While they missed a home ODI World Cup win in 2023 and another Champions Trophy triumph in 2017, they now have a golden chance to make up for it in Dubai.

A Champions Trophy triumph will give Rohit another ICC trophy after winning T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies last year, while the win will also ensure a big result is in Gambhir’s kitty after having a tumultuous time in his coaching stint so far.

Threat: By picking five spinners in Axar, Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy, India have decided to keep all options open in terms of bowling composition. It’s clear that they are going in with an intention to play three spinners in their playing eleven, especially with Dubai coming off hosting ILT20 matches earlier this month.

But what if they are asked to defend totals, and dew sets in the evening in Dubai, it would mean that their spin-pronged strategy would backfire, which then poses a big threat to their chances of winning the tournament.

India squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), 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, and Varun Chakravarthy.

India enter the Champions Trophy 2025 as one of the favourites, but the tournament may end up having extra significance for them if the words of former Indian cricketer-turned-pundit Aakash Chopra is anything to go by. Chopra has suggested that there is a strong possibility that this tournament could be the last time senior stalwarts of the side like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami play a major ICC event. All players are well over 30 years of age.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra provided good reasoning behind the thought process.

“I am saying this with a heavy heart. There is a strong possibility. The Champions Trophy is about to happen, and after that, there will be another ICC event this year, which is the WTC (World Test Championship) final. India haven’t reached there. So none among Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja will play that,” said Chopra.

“After that, the ICC event next year is the T20 World Cup but all three have retired from that format. So all three won’t play there as well,” Chopra added.

Chopra expressed uncertainty about whether the seniors would be able to play till the 2027 ODI World Cup.

“The ODI World Cup will be in 2027, which could be a bit too far. The world will look very different by 2027. I think even the players also feel this could be their last,” Chopra said.

India captain Rohit Sharma turns 38 in April 2025, whereas Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja turn 37 later this year. Mohammed Shami also turns 35 this year.

With the Indian senior core not getting any younger, Team India have already hinted at long-term leadership appointments. Jasprit Bumrah taking up Test captaincy is all but a formality, while Shubman Gill is seemingly being prepared to take over the leadership in the ODI format.

Rohit, Kohli, Jadeja and Shami were all instrumental as India dominantly reached the 2023 World Cup final, and will be hoping to play a crucial role again as they aim to win a record third Champions Trophy title.

India begin their Champions Trophy campaign on February 20 against Bangladesh, and then face Pakistan and New Zealand in the group phase.

India Squad For Champions Trophy 2025: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.

With India 2-0 up, as many as three players found a spot each in India’s playing XI for the third and final ODI against England. Yet, wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant found no place in the team for the dead rubber. Pant, who was added to India’s squad not just for the ODI series against England but also for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. After India won the first two matches, changes were expected to be made with the team. While India skipper Rohit Sharma did announce multiple swaps in the playing XI, KL Rahul continued to be persisted for the role behind the stumps as Pant warmed the bench.

It was England skipper Jos Buttler who won the toss and opted to field first. Rohit, however, confirmed that he wanted to bat first anyway. Hence, both captains got what they wanted.

“I wanted to bat first and put runs on the board because we bowled first in the last two games. It was important for us to get a win in the last game. The fielders portrayed themselves well in the last two games, a lot of young blood. We want to continue to do well in the field. They are pretty new in their careers so we want to keep the pressure away from them, let them do their own and they have got a lot of potential.

Rohit announced that Shami and Jadeja were rested for the match but Varun couldn’t participate due to a sore calf issue. Hence, India had to make three changes.

“We have made some changes – Jadeja and Shami have been rested, unfortunately, Varun has a sore calf. So, Washi, Kuldeep, and Arshdeep come into the side,” Rohit said at the time of toss,” said the skipper.

“We are gonna bowl first today. (On whether the expected dew has influenced his decision to bowl first) A little bit maybe, it may spin a bit later. We have batted first in the first two games so it will be a different experience today ahead of the Champions Trophy. It’s a decent wicket, we played New Zealand in the World Cup a few years ago, it was a black soil pitch and it played better in the second half. We have one change – Tom Banton comes in for Jamie Overton into the side,” the England skipper said after the toss. 

India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh

England Playing XI: Philip Salt(w), Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler(c), Tom Banton, Liam Livingstone, Gus Atkinson, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Saqib Mahmood

While the return of India stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, among others, to the domestic circuit has grabbed the eyeballs of cricket experts and fans alike, former India cricketer-turned-pundit Aakash Chopra has drawn out a major talking point. Chopra stated that all the senior players have played only one Ranji game, as stars who played in the first week of games (from January 23) are skipping the second week (from January 30). Only those India stars who missed the first week games are playing in the ongoing week.

Barring Ravindra Jadeja, all senior India regulars who played in the January 23 games are giving the ongoing round a miss.

Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant are some of the big names who participated in the January 23 ties, but are not playing any further.

Chopra criticised this aspect, stating that this has made it seem like playing in Ranji was a token punishment for the players.

“Virat Kohli is playing, but many others are not, like Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal or Shreyas Iyer. Ultimately, all the players have played their token Ranji Trophy match, marked their attendance and left,” Chopra said, speaking on his YouTube channel.

“Virat Kohli hadn’t played that round, so he is playing now.”

“What does it tell you? This (playing Ranji Trophy) was a bit of a punishment posting. But playing first-class cricket shouldn’t be a punishment, it should be a privilege,” said Chopra.

Following India’s 1-3 loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, the BCCI had implemented a 10-point guideline, one of which stated that available players must participate in domestic cricket.

However, most of the India regulars have opted to play just one game.

Rohit, Jaiswal, Shreyas, Gill and Pant all lost their respective Ranji games. Ravindra Jadeja, however, starred for Saurashtra and took home the Player of the Match award.

Ravindra Jadeja was unplayable on a spinners’ paradise and added another seven to his first innings five-for as Saurashtra all but ensured Delhi’s exit from Ranji Trophy with a 10-wicket victory inside two days in Group D, on Friday. While the famed Indian batters were huge flops across games, all-rounder Jadeja showed why he is still menacing on tracks that offer significant help. The hosts pounded Delhi by dismissing them for a mere 94 in 25.2 overs in their second innings. This was after Saurashtra did well enough to score 271.

The 83-run first innings lead on a difficult track proved to be decisive. Saurashtra scored the required 12 runs in just 3.1 overs. The match lasted little over 150 overs across two days.

After six rounds, Saurashtra (18 points) are back in the hunt to qualify for the knock-out stages from group D along with Tamil Nadu (19 from 5 games), who are in good position to win outright against Chandigarh (18 points from 5 games).

Delhi with 14 points have one home game left against Railways and even a seven-point win might not be enough if Saurashtra or Chandigarh manage outright wins in their last games.

The Rishabh Pant fans were left high and dry as he got out for 17 in the second essay after scoring 1. In the first innings, he had holed out in the deep trying to slog-sweep left-arm spinner Dharmendra Jadeja.

In the second innings , the more famous Jadeja, Ravindra, brought him forward and extra bounce had him edge to Sheldon Jackson in the first slip.

Saurashtra skipper Jaydev Unadkat had said before the game that they will prepare rank turner and go for seven points in their bid to make it to knock-out stage.

Save skipper Ayush Badoni (44), who once again looked good and Pant, who tried to counter attack briefly, none of the Delhi batters had an inkling which of Jadeja’s deliveries would turn and which ones would go straight.

Some of them tried to sweep without much success while others were not assured of their footwork.

The difference was in class of spin attack. Both the Jadejas — Ravindra and Dharmendra — didn’t try to extract turn on a diabolical track and just pitched it in right areas. The two Delhi left-arm spinners Harsh Tyagi (4/71 in 17 overs) and Sumit Mathur (0/57 in 13 overs) went at more than four runs per over on a spin-friendly track.

After the end of the match, Jadeja was seen giving tips to Tyagi, who has been a big letdown for Delhi throughout the season while Pant had some advice for young Saurashtra keeper Harvik Desai.

Suraj, Sharandeep and Utkarsh shine for Jharkhand 

Opener Kumar Suraj (104) scored a century and was ably supported by Sharandeep Singh (69) and Utkarsh Singh (62), who helped themselves with a half-century each. Jharkhand were sitting pretty at 304 for 4 in their first innings against Chattishgarh after end of second day’s play in Jamshedpur.

Jharkhand now enjoy a 74-run first innings lead after bowling out Chattisgarh for 230 in their first innings.

On the day, Jharkhand openers Suraj and Sharandeep added 179 for the opening stand to set up a nice platform. Suraj hit 11 fours and one six while Sharandeep had fours to his credit.

While the openers were dogged in their approach, Utkarsh during his 83-ball knock upped the ante with nine crisp boundaries to his credit. He looked good for a big score before off-spinner Jivesh Bhutte had him caught by Gagandeep Singh.

Ajith, Sai Kishore give TN first innings lead

On a day dominated by left-arm spinners, Tamil Nadu’s seasoned duo of Ajith Ram (5/34) and R Sai Kishore (3/48) bowled out Chandigarh for 204 to give Tamil Nadu a sizeable first innings lead of 97 on the second day in Salem.

At stumps, the lead swelled to 124 as the hosts ended the day’s play at 27 for 2 in their second innings. Tamil Nadu scored 301 riding on teenager C Andre Siddarth’s century.

Upendra Scores 82 in Railways’ 198 for 5

Former India A keeper-batter Upendra Yadav remained unbeaten on 82 as Railways reached 198 for 5 against Assam after the match started on the second day in Guwahati. There was no play possible on first day.

Brief Scores: *Delhi 188 and 94 in 25.2 overs (Rishabh Pant 17, Ravindra Jadeja 7/38).

Saurashtra 271 (Harvik Desai 93, Ravindra Jadeja 38, Harsh Tyagi 4/71) and 15/0 in 3.1 overs.

Points: Saurashtra 7; Delhi 0 *Chattisgrah 1st Innings 230. Jharkhand 304 for 4 in 94 overs (Kumar Suraj 104, Sharandeep Singh 69, Utkarsh Singh 62).

*Tamil Nadu 301 and 27/2.

Chandigarh 1st Innings: 204 (Ajith Ram 5/34, R Sai Kishore 3/48).

*Railways 198 for 5 in 67 overs (Upendra Yadav 82 batting, Mukhtar Hussain 2/18) vs Assam.

Saurashtra vs Delhi Live Score Updates, Ranji Trophy Day 2© X (formerly Twitter)

Saurashtra vs Delhi, Ranji Trophy LIVE Streaming: Delhi take on Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy 2024/25, in a game that sees the domestic cricket return of two India stalwarts, in the form of Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja. Pant returns to the Ranji circuit after a seven-year absence, but won’t captain Delhi, choosing to play under soon-to-be Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) teammate Ayush Badoni. Jadeja last played Ranji Trophy in January 2023, and will turn out for Saurashtra, under the captaincy of veteran pacer Jaydev Unadkat. Delhi sit fourth in the Elite Group D table, while Saurashtra are sixth.

Here are the LIVE Streaming details for Saurashtra vs Delhi, Ranji Trophy LIVE Telecast: Check Where and How to Watch

When will the Saurashtra vs Delhi, Ranji Trophy match take place?

The Saurashtra vs Delhi, Ranji Trophy match will take place on Thursday, January 23 (IST).

Where will the Saurashtra vs Delhi, Ranji Trophy match be held?

The Saurashtra vs Delhi, Ranji Trophy match will be held at the Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot.

What time will the Saurashtra vs Delhi, Ranji Trophy match start?

The Saurashtra vs Delhi, Ranji Trophy match will start at 9:30 AM IST. The toss will take place at 9:00 AM IST.

Which TV channels will show the live telecast of the Saurashtra vs Delhi, Ranji Trophy match?

The Saurashtra vs Delhi, Ranji Trophy match will not be televised live in India.

Where to follow the live streaming of the Saurashtra vs Delhi, Ranji Trophy match?

The Saurashtra vs Delhi, Ranji Trophy match will be not be live streamed in India.

(All details are as per information provided by the broadcaster)

Ravindra Jadeja ended the year 2024 with 562 runs in 20 Tests and 23 innings.© X@saucricket