Team India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav replied to a reporter’s query over the 2025 Champions Trophy snub before the T20I series against England. A reporter also asked whether not getting selected hurt him who denied the feeling and said that he didn’t deserve a spot. However, Suryakumar hasn’t played an ODI since the 2023 World Cup final and remains only in India’s T20I side as well.

Speaking at a presser ahead of the first T20I against England on Wednesday, he said as quoted by PTI, “Why would it hurt? If I do well, I would have been in the Champions Trophy. If I don’t do well, it’s important to accept that. And at the same time, if you see the (CT) squad, it’s looking really good. Whoever is there, they are all good performers. They have done relatively well in that format for India and also playing domestic cricket and I am very happy for them. It hurts to think that I have not done well. And if I had done well, I would have stayed there. If I haven’t done well, someone who deserves to have done really well, deserves to be there.”

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Veteran fast bowler Mohammed Shami is also set to return to the Indian team after a long-standing injury as well. Ahead of Shami’s return, Suryakumar Yadav also hopes he can recreate the 2023 World Cup magic with Jasprit Bumrah in the 2025 Champions Trophy as well.

He cocncluded: “They have played a lot of cricket together. They are experienced bowlers. And whenever you play for India, it’s a different feeling, different emotion. Added responsibility and you love playing. So, it will be fun to see them bowling together again. Like we saw in the 2023 ODI World Cup. They bowled really well. And hopefully, we will see the same bowling in the Champions Trophy.”