India Focuses on White Ball Cricket for Champions Trophy 2025
India Shifts Focus to White Ball Cricket Ahead of Champions Trophy 2025
After a long and exhausting two-month-long Test series in Australia which concluded with a 1-3 defeat, the Indian cricket team gears up for a format change. An overcrowded schedule of white ball cricket greets them as the team looks to regroup and head into the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The marquee event starts on February 19 and India will play all their matches in Dubai owing to political and logistical reasons.
Now, to be followed by the T20I and ODI series against England, the Champions Trophy will come up, and this is the right time to fine-tune strategies and finalize the squad.
Preparations Begin with England T20I and ODI Series
The white ball cricket build-up will start with a five-match T20I series against England in Kolkata from January 22 and continue with a three-match ODI series, beginning on February 6, 9 and 12 respectively in Nagpur, Cuttack, and Ahmedabad respectively. These ODIs will go on to form a crucial exercise to help iron out India’s combination before the Champions Trophy.
The series with England will be a good chance to try the combination and get players into form and confidence. The return of some of the star players like Subman Gill and Hardik Pandya is expected, though some selections are not certain, such as including Mohammed Shami.
India’s Champions Trophy Campaign: Fixtures and Challenges
The Champions Trophy will be a major landmark in India’s white ball cricket journey. India will kick-start their campaign on February 20 against Bangladesh in Dubai. The most-wanted clash of the league stage will arrive on February 23 as India squares off against arch-rivals Pakistan. A game against New Zealand on March 2 will bring the group stage to a close.
If India qualifies, the semifinal is scheduled for March 4 in Dubai, and the final is on March 9. They will try to be consistent through the tournament to regain their world cricket position.
Jasprit Bumrah Likely to Be Vice-Captain
Reports suggest that Jasprit Bumrah is likely to be considered as the deputy of Rohit Sharma for the Champions Trophy. His captaincy skills in the recently concluded Test series against Australia were highly valued. But his workload management will be a tricky affair as it might result in his exclusion from some of the matches before the mega event.
The role of vice-captain has gone through a lot of changes of late, with Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya also being saddled with the responsibility. The final squad of 15 players will be announced by January 12, after which the participation and role of Bumrah will be certain.
Building Momentum for the Godfather of Cricket
But with their prestige over the years in history and, more importantly, the level of competitiveness, the Champions Trophy is, in a sense, the Godfather’ of Cricket Tournaments. Whatever preparation and performance India will display in the ODIs against England, will give the cue to their campaign in Dubai.
In addition, the audience who wants to catch the journey of India can easily watch Live Cricket Free on Winexch, a website that promises continuous access to action-packed series and tournaments.
Therefore, India’s transition from the disastrous Test series to their white ball assignments will be quite crucial as far as their fortunes in the Champions Trophy are concerned. The key players return home and so do fresh strategies to meet challenges and perform at their best on the global stage.
FAQs
- When does the T20I series between India and England begin?
The T20I series begins on January 22, 2025, in Kolkata.
- Where will India play its Champions Trophy games?
India, due to political reasons, will play its Champions Trophy games in Dubai – the first one is scheduled for February 20 against Bangladesh.
- Who is expected to be India’s vice-captain at the Champions Trophy?
Subject to fitness, Jasprit Bumrah is likely to be named the vice-captain.
- What are India’s ODI series venues against England?
Nagpur, Cuttack, and Ahmedabad will host the ODI matches against England on 6th, 9th, and 12th of February, respectively.
- How can fans watch India’s matches live?
Winexch is a trusted platform to watch live cricket for free.
