India will play all of its matches in Dubai in ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Former India all-rounder Suresh Raina believes middle-order batter Suryakumar Yadav would be greatly missed in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 because he might have brought the 'X-factor' in Dubai, where Rohit Sharma's team will play all of its games.
Suryakumar and fast bowler Mohammed Siraj were the two big names left out of the Champions Trophy squad named on Saturday. They were among six players named to the 2023 ODI World Cup squad.
The others to miss out are Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur, and Ishan Kishan, while Ravichandran Ashwin has recently retired from the game.
"Surya was an integral part of the World Cup squad; he is a 360 player who can score at 9 runs per over at any stage of the game. He can dominate the opposition and bat differently. If Surya was there, he would have been an X-factor; he would have missed. The responsibility will now be on the top 3, who are not in form. Surya is someone who can bat in any position,” Suresh Raina said on Star Sports.
Raina also stated that with Jasprit Bumrah's fitness questionable and Mohammed Shami returning from injury, Siraj would have been a better option, but he believes the Hyderabad pacer may still make the squad.
"Siraj was in a different form in Australia, but you can change the squad till 12 February. So I feel Siraj can be back in the side if Bumrah is not fully fit. Harshit Rana has done well. He has good pace, a good bumper, variation, a yorker, and pace. He and Arshdeep Singh can both bowl at the death, but I still feel Siraj is a better option if Bumrah is not there,” Raina added.
While Rohit will lead the side, young, talented batter Shubman Gill has been named as the vice-captain for the Champions Trophy, and Raina termed the decision as a forward-thinking move.
"Gill got the vice-captaincy at the right time. He is the next superstar of Indian cricket and has done remarkably well in ODIs. Raina said Rohit knows how to mentor a youngster and what value Shubman will bring in.".
Raina believes that left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav and all-rounder Hardik Pandya would play important roles in the bowling department because Dubai surfaces are sluggish and turnable.
“Shami lacks match practice, Bumrah is still uncertain, and Kuldeep is returning from an operation. What will be important is to see who will partner with Kuldeep in the spin department. Rohit has the capacity; he has a team, but what will be important is the 11-player combination out of 15. The wickets will be a bit slow, but we have the capacity,” Raina stated.
Raina too backed Rishabh Pant to be the first-choice wicketkeeper in the Indian team, which also has KL Rahul.
"Definitely Pant; his wicketkeeping has improved. But he has to play with more responsibility in a 50-over game. If he stays there for 40-50 balls, he can take the game away from the opposition, but he needs to spend more time at the crease,” Raina concluded.
India will open their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 against Bangladesh on February 20, will then face Pakistan on February 23, and will clash against New Zealand on March 2. All matches will be played in Dubai.