India Champions Trophy squad announcement: Experts spark Rahul vs Pant debate; Selectors to decide fate on Jan 11

India Champions Trophy squad announcement Live: We will continue building up to the much-awaited squad announcement for the Champions Trophy, which is likely to take place on January 11. Stay tuned!

India Champions Trophy squad announcement Live: South Africa’s sports minister has urged the Proteas to boycott the Champions Trophy game against Afghanistan next month and criticised the ICC for not upholding its own rules.

Gayton McKenzie said on Thursday he felt “morally bound to support” a match boycott because the Taliban government has banned women’s sport and disbanded the national women’s cricket team.

India Champions Trophy squad announcement Live: Australia captain Pat Cummins’ availability for the upcoming Champions Trophy is uncertain, as a report from ESPNCricinfo revealed that he has been struggling with an ankle issue throughout the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India.

India Champions Trophy squad announcement Live: According to an India Today report, India will play a practice match in Dubai to prepare for the Champions Trophy. The men in blue will play all of their matches in Dubai, including the semi-final and final, should they qualify.

India Champions Trophy squad announcement Live: Former India cricketers Sanjay Manjrekar and Sanjay Bangar certainly feel KL Rahul will be the first-choice wicketkeeper, followed by Sanju Samson.

“Pant was away from cricket for a long time. He did make a good return in T20Is and Test, but he never had that good form in ODI cricket. KL Rahul should be your first-choice keeper,” said the former India batting coach.

Manjrekar added saying: “I have been a good believer in Samson. Yes he wasn’t scoring runs initially and maybe he isn’t a fit down the order. But if India want a big hitter for the last 10 overs…and yes I agree with Bangar on Pant.”

Sanjay Manjrekar’s India XI for England ODI series: Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami.

Reserves: Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, Sarfaraz Khan.

Sanjay Bangar’s India XI for England ODI series: Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami.

Reserves: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Sanju Samson.

India Champions Trophy squad announcement Live: A report in the Times of India hinted that although Jadeja’s future as an India cricket is uncertain with the all-rounder no longer in Gautam Gambhir’s scheme of things, he might just still be in contention for a spot in the Champions Trophy. However, it all depends on the selectors who are expected to take the call on his future during the home series.

India Champions Trophy squad announcement Live: Earlier on Wednesday, a report in PTI said that Mohammed Shami is set to face the axe, with selectors still fretting over his fitness. However, Cricbuzz, on the same evening, reported that the veteran fast bowler, who was India’s highest wicket-taker in the 2023 ODI World Cup, is all set to make his international return in the upcoming ODI series against England and potentially for the Champions Trophy as well.

India Champions Trophy squad announcement Live: Despite a dismal run in the tour of Australia, Rohit is likely to be retained as the captain for Champions Trophy.

Rohit Sharma in ODIs: 265 matches | Runs 10,866 | Strike Rate 92.43 | 31 hundreds

India Champions Trophy squad announcement Live: According to a report in the Hindustan Times, Bumrah, who suffered from a back injury in the Sydney Test, has consulted the same New Zealand-based orthopaedic surgeon, who had operated him in 2023. Bumrah is likely to be named in the provisional squad for the tournament, but will only play if he is pain-free on return to bowling.