India’s final squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has raised several questions, with the omission of young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal standing out as a major talking point. The BCCI confirmed on Tuesday that Jaiswal, initially named in the provisional squad, has been left out in favor of mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy. While Jaiswal remains a non-traveling reserve alongside Mohammed Siraj and Shivam Dube, his exclusion has sparked debate over India’s squad strategy.
Why Was Yashasvi Jaiswal Dropped?
Jaiswal’s omission suggests that the team management has settled on its top-order combination for the Champions Trophy. The Rohit Sharma-Shubman Gill pair is India’s preferred opening duo, with Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer completing the top four. Despite being one of India’s top run-scorers in 2024 across formats, Jaiswal played just one ODI before being sidelined when Kohli returned to the squad. This signals that India is prioritizing stability over experimentation, especially after struggling with their middle-order consistency in recent months.
Why Did Varun Chakravarthy Replace Jaiswal?
With the top-order locked in, India opted to strengthen their bowling attack, selecting Varun Chakravarthy over an additional batter. The mystery spinner has been in excellent form, recently claiming 14 wickets in five T20Is against England and being named ‘Player of the Series.’ His ability to contain runs and provide breakthroughs in the middle overs likely convinced the selectors to bring him into the squad, especially with the Champions Trophy set to be played in Dubai, where spin-friendly conditions could favor his skill set.
Another key factor in Jaiswal’s exclusion is India’s strong all-round depth. The presence of Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja offers both batting stability and bowling options, reducing the need for an extra specialist opener. With Iyer as a backup for the top order and Rishabh Pant providing flexibility, the team management seemingly found no room for Jaiswal in the final 15.
Despite his exclusion, Jaiswal remains in India’s long-term plans. As one of the country’s most promising young batters, he is likely to be a key figure in future tournaments. His non-traveling reserve status also means that he could be called up if an injury arises. However, for now, India has chosen experience and squad balance over experimentation as they aim for Champions Trophy glory.
India’s Updated Squad for Champions Trophy 2025
- Final 15: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakravarthy.
- Non-Travelling Reserves: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj, Shivam Dube.
India will begin their Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh on February 20, followed by key matches against Pakistan on February 23 and New Zealand on March 3.