India will commence their journey in the 2025 Champions Trophy with a match against Bangladesh in Dubai. A significant concern for the team is identifying a suitable replacement for Jasprit Bumrah to partner with Mohammed Shami in the pace attack. Harshit Rana has been included in the larger squad as Bumrah's substitute; however, there is ongoing discussion regarding the potential inclusion of Arshdeep Singh in the playing XI.

India will be optimistic that Mohammed Shami can regain his form, which he exhibited prior to his lengthy absence of over a year and a half due to injury. Nevertheless, Shami is expected to assume the role of India's primary pace bowler. While Rana has made an impressive start to his international career across all formats, India may opt for the left-arm variation and experience that Arshdeep offers.

It would be unexpected to see any alterations in the bowling lineup, as India is likely to retain Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav as their spin options. The versatility of Axar and Jadeja as all-rounders enables India to field three spinners, regardless of whether the pitch conditions favor pace or spin.

India hope senior batters can come good

Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer have both demonstrated exceptional performance recently. In contrast, India's senior batting trio—Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul—has struggled in their recent outings. Rohit managed to score an impressive 119 runs off 90 balls in the second ODI against England; however, he was dismissed for just two and one run in the matches surrounding that performance. This inconsistency is compounded by a broader period of poor form for the Indian captain.

Virat Kohli's vulnerability to deliveries outside the off stump was notably exploited by Australia earlier this year, and England also capitalized on this weakness to some extent. He scored only five runs in the second ODI and followed that with a score of 52 in the third. In the latter match, he was dismissed while attempting to play a forward shot to a delivery that could have been better handled off the back foot, which reflects a troubling trend in his recent dismissals. Meanwhile, KL Rahul is currently serving as India's wicketkeeper ahead of Rishabh Pant, a situation that adds additional pressure on him. He did manage to regain some form in the third ODI.

India's likely XI vs Bangladesh:

Batters: Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant

Wicketkeeper: KL Rahul

All-rounders: Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja

Bowlers: Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami

Read Also: Champions Trophy 2025: Will Virat Kohli Finally Score a Century After 16 Years? A Statistical Overview

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