NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer Suresh Raina believes Rohit Sharma‘s staff has the potential to duplicate MS Dhoni‘s 2013 Champions Trophy triumph. Underneath Dhoni’s captaincy, India defeated England within the remaining to clinch the title.
On Saturday, India males’s cricket staff Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar and captain Rohit Sharma unveiled the 15-member squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, set to start on February 19 in Karachi.
The squad contains Shubman Gill as Rohit’s deputy and options opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who’s but to make his ODI debut.
Raina, a key participant in India’s 2013 Champions Trophy-winning marketing campaign, expressed confidence within the present squad’s energy however criticised the omission of Suryakumar Yadav, calling him the lacking “X-factor.”
“India seems to be like a powerful facet. I’m assured Rohit will take India to glory. However I used to be shocked with Surya’s exclusion from the staff. India will miss that X-factor and that too within the center order. We noticed Surya’s efficiency within the 2023 World Cup. He was scoring runs all around the floor, which is why he’s known as Mr. 360. He performs excellent sweep pictures and is a game-changer. He has the power to chase a required run price of 9-plus in opposition to prime groups. He ought to have been within the squad,” Raina, now a Cricket Knowledgeable and Commentator on Star Sports activities Press Room, advised TimesofIndia.com.
“India wanted a participant who may dominate the opposition within the center overs. The size of the Dubai floor are distinctive—you’ve small areas in entrance and bigger ones in the direction of the covers. Surya would have utilised these circumstances exceptionally nicely,” he mentioned.
“In his absence, there might be quite a lot of duty on the highest three batters, who’re additionally not in the perfect type. Within the center overs, will India go together with KL Rahul, or will Rishabh transfer up the order? Or will Shubman open the innings with Rohit? There’s quite a bit to contemplate proper now. If Suryakumar had been within the squad, he may have offered flexibility along with his means to bat wherever within the order,” Raina mentioned.
The 34-year-old Suryakumar has performed 37 ODIs thus far and scored 773 runs at a mean of 25.76. He has 4 half centuries to his identify.
India will open their marketing campaign on February 20 in opposition to Bangladesh on the Dubai Worldwide Stadium. Different groups within the group are Pakistan and New Zealand.
India’s second match might be a extremely anticipated conflict in opposition to arch-rivals Pakistan on February 23, adopted by their remaining group-stage encounter with New Zealand on March 2. All matches are scheduled to be held in Dubai.
India, who’ve gained the Champions Trophy twice, completed as runners-up within the final version of the event in 2017.
