As India prepares for the upcoming Champions Trophy, the focus has shifted to finalizing the 15-member squad, with the selectors expected to make their decisions by the end of this week. Senior cricketers KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami, and Ravindra Jadeja are facing potential exclusions, while promising youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal is likely to make the cut.
The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee is set to meet this weekend to finalize the squad. While the senior batting duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are expected to remain as the core of India’s ODI lineup, questions are being raised about the future of several seasoned players.
KL Rahul, who served as vice-captain during the 2023 ODI World Cup, played a key role in the middle order. However, with Rishabh Pant still recovering from injuries, the selectors will deliberate whether Rahul, who also kept wickets in recent ODIs, should continue as a backup keeper for the Champions Trophy.
Mohammed Shami, who returned to competitive action in October after an ankle injury, has been inconsistent in recent performances, including his limited impact in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja’s batting form has dipped, and with the rise of alternatives like Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, the selectors may lean towards other spin all-rounder options for the tournament.
On the other hand, Yashasvi Jaiswal, India’s most promising long-format batter, is expected to be included in the squad as a backup opener. Jaiswal has made a name for himself with impressive performances in domestic cricket, scoring over 1500 runs with five centuries and seven fifties.
With these decisions on the horizon, all eyes will be on the selection committee’s choices as India gears up for the Champions Trophy.
