Overview
- Head coach Gautam Gambhir clarified that Shreyas Iyer was always part of India's Champions Trophy plans despite initial benching rumors.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal, after a single ODI appearance against England, was dropped from the Champions Trophy squad in favor of spinner Varun Chakravarthy.
- Ravichandran Ashwin expressed concerns about India's decision to include five spinners, questioning the suitability of such a strategy for Dubai's pitches.
- Jasprit Bumrah's unavailability due to a back injury has further complicated India's bowling balance, with limited fast-bowling options in the squad.
- India's Champions Trophy campaign begins on February 20 against Bangladesh, with no practice matches scheduled ahead of the tournament.