2025 Champions Trophy is the next mega event for Team India. It marks the return of the ICC Champions Trophy since 2017, where India finished runners-up after losing against Pakistan in the final. Several big names of Indian cricket like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah, who are a part of the current setup, played in that edition of the mega event.
Kohli was the captain in 2017, with Ravi Shastri being the head coach. Times have changed now, and Gautam Gambhir is the head coach. From 2021-24, Rahul Dravid also had a stint as the head coach. With the change in coach, there has been change in the playing style of the team, the players in the squad and also the decision of whether to play some seniors or not.
Whether fans agree or not, there is no alternative to experience, and the same was proved by Indian stars in T20 World Cup 2024. If India wants to win the Champions Trophy 2025, then coach Gambhir should recall the following two senior batters dropped by coach Dravid.
1. Shikhar Dhawan should be back for 2025 Champions Trophy
BCCI must urge Shikhar Dhawan to return to domestic List-A matches and get back in form for the Champions Trophy scheduled to happen next year. Dhawan is one of the few Indian players who always performs well in ICC tournaments.
The trio of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli can give sleepless nights to the opposition bowling attack. Dhawan also brings the left-handed batting option, something which has been missing since Shubman Gill became a part of the team.
2. Manish Pandey
Manish Pandey is one of the most underrated players in Indian cricket. The right-handed batter knows how to play in the middle overs, plus his game against spin and pace is brilliant.
Gautam Gambhir has spent so much time with him in the past. Gambhir knows how to bring the best out of Manish Pandey. On top of that, he is an extraordinary fielder, which will benefit India in major matches, just like Australia took advantage of it in the 2023 World Cup Final.
