The Indian cricket team has landed in Dubai, gearing up for the highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Their campaign kicks off with a crucial opening match against Bangladesh on February 20. With preparations in full swing, the team has been undergoing rigorous practice sessions at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Amidst these intense training drills, captain Rohit Sharma was spotted engaging in a friendly conversation with a local net bowler, offering a rare glimpse into his relaxed yet focused mindset ahead of the tournament. One of the key talking points for India heading into the competition is the absence of their premier fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah.
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The experienced pacer is still recovering from a back injury, leaving a significant void in India’s bowling attack. With only five players from the squad having featured in the 2017 edition of the Champions Trophy, this year’s lineup brings a mix of experience and fresh talent. The tournament will also mark Rohit Sharma’s second stint as India’s ODI captain in a major ICC event following the heartbreak of the 2023 World Cup final defeat.
Rohit Sharma with net bowler 😂
The way he changed his accent 😂🤣 pic.twitter.com/Z9Q9t0y1fY
— Ctrl C Ctrl Memes (@Ctrlmemes_) February 18, 2025
India’s journey in the tournament will see them play all their group-stage matches in Dubai. The decision to stage India’s games at a neutral venue came after the BCCI declined to send the team to Pakistan due to security concerns and geopolitical tensions. As a result, the ICC designated Dubai as the official venue for India’s matches, ensuring a balanced and fair playing field for all competing teams.
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India’s Squad for Champions Trophy 2025:
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.
