India has started preparing for the Champions Trophy 2025 by securing the Over series against England, completing the third ODI match with a stunning 142-run victory in Ahmadabad. In a dominating performance, the Men in Blue outshone the opposition in all segments of the game.
Following the ODI, India is set to face of Pakistan in the most awaited clash on February 23, followed by their last group match against New Zeland on March 2. Although Pakistan is officially hosting the tournament, the matches for Rohit Sharma’s team will take place in Dubai because of political tensions. India’s first match will be against Bangladesh on February 20, and they will face off the other team in the group, New Zealand on March 2, in the previously mentioned order.
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Jasprit Bumrah is out of the squad due to injury, and Harshit Rana replaces him while Varun Chakaravarthy comes in for Yashasvi Jaiswal. The BCCI made important modifications to the team before the set deadline. However, this remarkable series gave answers to all the queries that seemed to rush through the minds of almost everyone competing in the prestigious series.
Let us explore the three questions that India answered before the Champions Trophy 2025.
3. Top-order back in form:
After India lost the Test series against Australia, the side’s top order came under intense scrutiny. Thankfully, everything seems to be falling in place a few miles ahead of the ICC champions trophy 2025. Rohit Sharma made sure that his critics are silenced was startling his 119 in Cuttack. Virat Kohli, on the other hand, also had a good ODI series with a fifty in the final ODI. KL Rahul also chipped in after looking a little rusty in the beginning of the series and did well in the 3rd ODI.
Ominously for the opposition, the young opener has also performed consistently in the series against England scoring 2 fifties and finishing off with a spectacular ton in the last ODI in Ahmedabad. The Punjab batter’s effort earned him the Player of the Series for his 259 runs in 3 games. In addition, Shreyas Iyer has not looked back as he dominated the Vijay Hazare Trophy on his way to the ODIs, scoring 2 fifties against England and is set to be India’s X-factor in Dubai.
India went for a young pacer instead of Jasprit Bumrah’s replacement for the upcoming tournament, which raised eyebrows. The question asked by many was, is he a good replacement. Most people thought that Mohammad siraj would step in, but the selectors were betting on Rana, who played in the 3 ODIs against England after Bumrah’s injury.
The Delhite speedster might have looked expensive in his spells at times, but he did take 6 wickets in the series and finished with an average of 24.33, making him the second most successful Indian bowler in the series. Rana also showed extraction after his Phil Salt on debut took 26 runs off him in the over – he came back to dismiss three batters in the next over. While either Mohammed Shami or Arshdeep Singh is set to open the bowling with Rana, one thing is clear – India is showing confidence in their new pace attack.
1. Indian pacers hunt in pack
One major takeaway for India at this ICC is the performance from their fast bowlers in the recent ODI series versus England. Even with Jasprit Bumrah out due to an injury, the other pacers were able to make an impact, taking 13 wickets in 3 games.
In his first outing, Harshit Rana made waves for his outstanding performance as he claimed six wickets within three matches. Mohammed Shami took 2 wickets just like Arshdeep Singh who played the last ODI. While the ever so dependable Hardik Pandya bagged 3 important wickets showing his full capability as an all rounder.
These achievements are remarkable given the matches for India are to be played in Dubai. At the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, which is known to be the fast bowlers’ paradise, On average, in 58 ODIs played, the pacers have scalped 466 wickets at an impressive rate of 28.6. Moreover, in the latest ILT20 tournament, eight out of the ten leading wicket takers at the venue were pace men. For more latest cricket update; Click Here