Champions Trophy 2025 Missing Best Squad List for Team India

Ruturaj Gaikwad as the leader in our alternate best squad and players list for Team India for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. 

One of the most exciting events of the season, the Champions Trophy 2025 is just a few weeks away. The tournament that is making a comeback after a gap of 8 years is a special event where the 8 best ODI teams fight it out for the ultimate glory, the Champions Trophy. It is a unique format where 8 teams are divided into two groups, and each team plays 3 group stage matches followed by a Semi-final and then a Final.

Team India had already announced their official 15-member squad for the Champions Trophy 2025. As expected, India have selected a strong squad led by charismatic Rohit Sharma. Aside from Rohit, the team has the likes of Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, etc. 

Given the limitations surrounding the squad, only 15 members are allowed to be selected. With a strong 15-member squad being there, it doesn’t mean there were no more deserving players who were also in contention, but could not make it. So, in this article, we will take a look at the strongest alternate best missing squad and players list for Team India for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. 

Ruturaj Gaikwad to Captain

Starting with the expected Captain of the squad, we will look at a young player who has the potential to lead the side, is already an IPL side, and has also led the Indian team in the past. Yes, we are talking about Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has not only been a solid 50-overs format batter, but is already an exceptional leader with MS Dhoni’s DNA in him. It would be ideal for Ruturaj to lead the side as he has also been constantly neglected by the Indian team in all three formats. 

Aside from Ruturaj, we have Rinku Singh, Sai Sudharsan, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Varma among first-choice batters. Barring Suryakumar Yadav, whose ODI format dream may be over, the others like Rinku Singh, Sai Sudharsan, and Tilak Varma are all solid batters. The good thing about this batting lineup is the presence of lefties, unlike the primary squad, which doesn’t have many left-handers in the side. 

Coming to wicket-keepers, India had selected Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul. While these two are solid keepers, their alternatives Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson are equally potent. In fact, this is a category, and the potential of Kishan and Sanju that even if these two are selected above Pant and KL Rahul, it wouldn’t be a problem. Both Sanju and Kishan have performed well in ODIs, but have been constantly ignored.

Lack of Backup All-rounders

For the All-rounders, India does not have many options to explore. Among the strong options, India have only Nitish Reddy and Abhishek Sharma. Given India have already selected 4 all-rounders in the primary side, we are only left with two good options. The team also has Shivam Dube, but that would weaken the bowling attack given Abhishek himself is more of a make-shift all-rounder. 

Finally, for bowling, India have a solid combination of 4 pacers and 2 spinners. Among quality pacers, India have Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav, and Shardul Thakur. Whereas among spinners, India have Varun Chakravathy and Yuzvendra Chahal. It’s a good bowling lineup for India. While Harshit is already projected as the backup for Bumrah, Shardul was a part of India’s World Cup squad, and Sirai was unfortunately left out of the squad. Similarly, Varun and Chahal are quality bowlers to miss India’s Champions Trophy squad. 

Champions Trophy 2025 Alternate Best Squad List for Team India

Batters:

1. Rinku Singh
2. Ruturaj Gaikwad (c)
3. Sai Sudharsan
4. Suryakumar Yadav
5. Tilak Varma

Wicket-keepers:

1. Ishan Kishan
2. Sanju Samson

All-rounders: 

1. Abhishek Sharma
2. Nitish Reddy 

Bowlers:

1. Harshit Rana
2. Mayank Yadav
3. Mohammed Siraj
4. Shardul Thakur
5. Varun Chakravarthy
6. Yuzvendra Chahal

So, that’s about the strongest missing squad for Team India for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. If we observe the squad, the team has solid potential to qualify for the Semi-finals. Such is the team strength that few of these players even have the potential to displace the already selected squad for Team India. Nevertheless, players from the missing squad can still make it to the primary squad if any of the senior players are injured, although we hope that situation doesn’t happen. 

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