India's Champions Trophy squad announcement press conference, live updates: Bumrah picked, Gill vice-captain

Thank you for joining us today as we provided minute-by-minute updates of the press conference and we would like to thank you for your patience today as we finally got to know the 15-member squad travelling to Dubai.

While the travelling reserves have not been named, the Men in Blue have named a stable 15-member squad, quite similar to the one picked for the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup with a few changes here and there.

A look at the squad once again: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (vc), Yashaswi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Arshdeep Singh

With one lead spinner, three spin-bowling all-rounders, one fast-bowling all-rounder, and three frontline fast bowlers including Jasprit Bumrah whose fitness is still under grey clouds, India might look to pair three spinners and two frontline fast bowlers along with Hardik Pandya who would be a sure-shot pick at No.6.

Agarkar said, "Shami has played most of the Syed Mushtaq Ali games and some of the Vijay Hazare games. To get him involved in T20Is is mainly to get him up to pace in international cricket and we are hoping he is at 100% when it comes to Champions Trophy matches."

Rohit said, "Siraj is not there because we wanted Arshdeep to bowl at the back end in case Bumrah is not available. Siraj's effectiveness comes down if he is not taking the new ball and with Arshdeep and Shami in the squad, we had no option but to select guys who can fulfill all three facets of bowling: bowling at the start, in the middle, and at the death."

The skipper said, "It's not about picking spin bowlers for the sake of it. These are specialist all-rounders in Axar Patel, Washi Sundar, and Ravindra Jadeja as they can equally contribute with both bat and ball. Sundar offers the right-arm spin option, Axar and Jadeja offer left-arm, while Kuldeep offers left-arm chinaman which covers kind of all bases."

Ajit Agarkar on the importance of playing domestic cricket, "It's difficult to play domestic cricket when you are playing all three formats. If players are available and fit, they should but it's not a diktat."

Both Sanju Samson and Mohammed Siraj have been omitted from the squad for the 3-match ODI series against England and the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. Karun Nair also didn't get a look in as the management feels he could be brought in if an unfortunate injury happens during the course of the next 50 days.

Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammad Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashaswi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja

15 Member squad for ICC Champions Trophy: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashaswi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and Chairman of Selectors Ajit Agarkar have sat down and will brief the press.

All the technical equipments from cameras to mics are being checked signalling that we are not far away from learning India's squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy.

According to a couple of reports, the press conference for the squad announcement has been pushed back a bit due to a last-minute meeting which might be crucial for a couple of players whose names are being discussed as of now behind closed doors.

After opening the tournament against Bangladesh on 20th February, India will face hosts Pakistan in Dubai on 23rd February before facing New Zealand on 2nd November after a substantial break.

Along with the ICC Champions Trophy squad, the fans will also get to know the squad for the ODI series against England which is set to serv as a dress rehearsal for the 8-team ICC tournament.

The Indian skipper and the chief selector are in the building as per the video footage circulating on the internet.

We are a few minutes away and the press conference will be live streamed on Disney+ Hotstar.

We are about a couple of minutes away. Rohit Sharma and Ajit Agarkar will soon address the media.

With Yashaswi Jaiswal showing signs of growth every single day, will the southpaw get picked for his first 50-over ICC tournament?

If the selectors want to look past Jaiswal, Sanju Samson is yet again another alternative who could bat across positions while Washington Sundar is also known to bat in the top order apart from offering a right-arm spin option on the spin-friendly pitches in the UAE.

We are less than 20 minutes away from the press conference and knowing India's squad for the ICC Champions Trophy. All the questions will be answered and doubts will be quashed when Indian skipper and the chief selector address the media in a few minutes.

With Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja the two sure-shot all-rounder picks, will Agarkar & co. hand spots to both Axar Patel and Washington Sundar citing spin-friendly conditions?

If India end up picking two specialist spinners or four fast bowlers (including Jasprit Bumrah), there might be only one spot up for grabs and Nitish Kumar Reddy is the last in the pecking order to make the 15-member squad.

India's star pacer is under an injury cloud after having suffered back trouble during the fifth Test against Australia. Reports suggest he might not be fit the league stages of the Champions Trophy.

Will selectors give Bumrah a chance to recover and take a gamble by picking him only for the knockouts?

Kuldeep Yadav has declared himself fit by posting a video of himself going through his bowling routine on X (formerly Twitter). The selectors had Varun Chakravarthy ready as a backup in case the left-arm chinaman bowler fails to make the cut but will they go ahead and pick two specialist spinners in the 15-member squad?

Karun Nair's dream run in the Vijay Hazare Trophy might see him lifting the trophy later in the evening. But would he get a double delight today with his name in the 15-member squad or even in the travelling reserves?

With KL Rahul likely to be the first-choice wicket-keeper batter, there are questions regarding his deputy as both Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson would be hoping to get picked in the 15-member squad.

Samson skipped the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy season which could have made him a frontrunner for the role but the scales are in balance as of now.

India skipper Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar will address the media at 12:30PM on January 18 to announce the Champions Trophy squad.