Reports: BCCI selectors to meet on January 11 to pick India's squad for Champions Trophy 2025

After suffering a 1-3 defeat in the recently-concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, India will return to the white-ball format later this month as they host England in a five-match T20I series followed by three ODIs. The Men in Blue will look to get some much-needed preparation ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025.

According to The Hindustan Times, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selectors will meet on Saturday, January 11 to pick the provisional squad for the Champions Trophy 2025, which will be played in Pakistan and the UAE. The deadline for announcing the squad for the marquee event is January 12. However, teams can make changes to this squad till February 13. The squad announcement would likely come by the end of this week.

The allowance to make changes till February 13 could come in handy for the selectors as they will be able to see how the players have performed in the games against England. The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee can make last-minute tweaks if they deem necessary. Also, it will give them additional time to assess Jasprit Bumrah's physical condition. The star pacer missed a major part of the Sydney Test last week after suffering back spasms.

“Most likely, this time he felt a tightness in the upper back. The reports have gone to his surgeon, we should have the final results very soon. My hunch is he will be part of the first squad that will be announced for CT. After all, you can have an injury replacement later," The Times of India quoted a former India pacer as saying on Wednesday.

Bumrah is a treasure and he should be handled with care: Srinivasan

BCCI can name Bumrah in the provisional squad and monitor his fitness in the coming weeks. They can keep a backup pacer ready just in case the 31-year-old fails to recover from his injury in time.

Also Read- Reports: Mohammed Shami to return for Champions Trophy 2025, Jasprit Bumrah to be made vice-captain

“Bumrah is a treasure and he should be handled with care. A CT is not the end of the world. If there is the slightest doubt, he shouldn’t be in the squad. Five back-to-back Test matches isn’t something he has ever played in his cricketing career," a former India trainer Ramaji Srinivasan said in the report.