India's opening Champions Trophy match would have crumbled if the prince Subhman Gill wouldn't taken the command, he was supported by Kl Rahul who ensured India would par the line before any other wicket would commence. On a shiny day at Dubai International Stadium, Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat first. 

But things were not that good for Bangladesh when they opted to bat they lost quick three wickets before reaching the score of 50,Mohammad Shami opened the account of wickets. Soon spinners took control over the Tigers it was quite unpredictable to read the ball which was turning a bit. 

Poor fielding And Come Back Of Bangladesh

BBangladesh were in serious trouble where things changed dramatically where Axar hatrick chance was missed, which was dropped by Rohit Sharma at slips and within few minutes of time Hardik Pandaya drops a sitter catch of Zakir Ali. Both the drop catches of Jakir Ali and Towhid Hridoy proved costly to India where Ali went on to hit a half century. 

Read More : India Fielding Comes Under The Radar Where Hardik Drops A Sitter

Towhid Hridoy scored his maiden Champions Trophy century but Bangladesh couldn't able to utilise their partnership well because after their wickets no proper support remained and the tail was exposed which was easily driven out by Indian team. In their quota of 50 overs Bangladesh able to score 228 runs losing all their wickets. 

India Onto Chase And Subhman Gill To Rescue

 IIndia begin their chase under lights captain Rohit Sharma and Subhman Gill leading the command. Rohit was with his same intent of attacking cricket and Subhman Gill supporting his captain quietly, India soon reach the mark of 50 and the chase was looking easy. But Taskin had the reply he removed the dangerously looking Rohit Sharma for 41. Then entered the king Kohli who had a good comeback against England. Kohli was chipping the ball quietly waiting for his opportunities to score. 

But he too couldn't hold to much he got out at the score of 22 facing 38 balls which clearly depicts that he still couldn't able to figure it out. Soon Iyer too was departed but Gill never loosed his concentration he kept on playing and scoring his 50 at the other end wickets were crumbling, soon Axar departed making India in delibirate situation. But Rahul gave the key support to Gill. Both the batsman took the charge of chasing. Subhman Gill went on to make a fantastic century which was his first too in Champions Trophy

Read More : Dubai weather Plays Autonomy to Indian Team

Rahul too made well made 40 and kept the one end ticking ensuring no other falls from his side. India comfortably chased the target in 47 over and opened their account with the victory. India contained the unbeaten record by 6 and once again proved that chasing under the lights is quite easy. Subhman Gill was awarded with the man of the match award. India are going to face their arch rivals Pakistan on 23 February which will be a decider for Pakistan as they have lost the opener against New Zealand. 

India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, said that  KL Rahul is the team’s first-choice wicketkeeper for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Even though Rishabh Pant is in the squad, Gambhir explained that Rahul’s steady performances have secured his place, meaning Pant will have to wait for his turn. Gambhir said, “KL is our No. 1 wicketkeeper right now. Rishabh Pant will get his chance, but at the moment, KL has performed well, and we can’t play two wicketkeeper-batters.”  

Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir confirms that KL Rahul is the first-choice wicketkeeper for Team India for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 🇮🇳🧤🗣️#GautamGambhir #KLRahul #ODIs #Sportskeeda pic.twitter.com/yNWLwfZoDZ

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) February 12, 2025

Rahul was India’s wicketkeeper in the three match ODI series against England. He struggled with the bat in the first two games, scoring only 2 and 10. However, he played very well in the third match, scoring a quick 40 off 29 balls, helping India for a big total of 356. He was also sharp behind the stumps, taking three catches and completing two stumpings.  

ALSO READ: KKR announces historic Trophy Tour, visiting nine cities before IPL 2025

Rahul(consistent wicketkeeper-batter), performing well in the 2023 ODI World Cup. He scored 452 runs at an average of 75.33, including a crucial  97 against Australia. His solid performances have strengthened his position in the team.  On the other side, Rishabh Pant is still waiting for his chance. After recovering from a long injury break, he has played just one ODI, scoring six runs against Sri Lanka. While he is known for his aggressive batting, the team management prefers Rahul’s reliability.   

Gambhir said that, “We don’t just look at stats; we look at who can perform when it matters.” This shows that the team is focused on choosing players based on match situations rather than just numbers. Gambhir’s support for Rahul means Pant will have to wait for his opportunity. The competition for the wicketkeeper spot is intense, but for now, KL Rahul remains India’s first choice.

Team India’s Travel Plans Leaked Ahead of First ODI Against England in Nagpur

Team India's secret trip details for their important game against England got out, and now all the fans know what's happening. The very first match will be in Nagpur, and everyone is really, really excited about it, even more now that we know!

While the details of the itinerary were initially meant to stay under wraps, the leak revealed key aspects of the team’s schedule, including their travel dates, accommodation details. The timing of the leak has sparked a wave of chatter among fans, as they eagerly discuss the implications for Team India’s preparations for the series.

The first ODI in Nagpur will mark the start of a thrilling contest between India and England, and with both teams bringing their best to the field, the leaked travel plans have only added to the anticipation. Fans are now eagerly awaiting to see how this may affect the team’s strategy and whether the squad is ready to take on England with full force.

ALSO READ:  Epic Drama Enfolds Where A Bus Driver Locks BPL Players

Somehow, fans found out about Team India's trip plans before they were supposed to, and now a large amount of fans are discussing it. It made a large number of people even more excited for the first ODI against England in Nagpur. Now, everyone's looking to see how India will play when the match starts. We are all very excited, and the match is going to be very good and enjoyable to watch. There's going to be a gaudy review because everyone is very excited to see the teams go head-to-head. But everyone's speaking a lot about this match, and it's very obvious that something big is going to happen.

The last round of the group stage of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 is around the corner. While the final round of the league stage will begin on Thursday (January 30), we have some important reports on the availabilities of the national team players. Here, we are going through these reports. 

Virat Kohli is set for Ranji Trophy return

Former Indian captain Virat Kohli is set to serve for Delhi. It will be his first match in the Ranji Trophy in the last 12 years. He last played a Ranji Trophy match in November 2012 against Uttar Pradesh. Kohli is set to train with the Delhi team from Tuesday (January 28).

See Also: Top 5 highest run-scorers in the Ranji Trophy history

KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Ravindra Jadeja are also likely to play

KL Rahul is set to serve for Karnataka, who will face the Elite Group C table-toppers Haryana. He last played a Ranji Trophy match in February 2020. On the other hand, the Hyderabad pacer Mohammed Siraj is set to return to the Ranji Trophy. 

All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who just returned to the Ranji Trophy to play against Delhi and won the Player of the Match award after picking up 12 wickets, will continue his service for Saurashtra. 

Rishabh Pant and Mumbai stars are likely to miss

On the other hand, Rishabh Pant, who served for Delhi in their last Ranji Trophy round match against Saurashtra, is unlikely to play the last round.

Indian Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma, who just returned to the Ranji Trophy almost a decade later, will miss out on the forthcoming last round of the group stage along with the Mumbai and national teammates Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer. 

Centurion Shubman Gill likely to unavailable

Punjab cricketer Shubman Gill, the vice-captain of the Indian ODI team, is also reportedly unavailable for the last round of the group stage in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season. The right-handed batter scored a century (102) against Karnataka in the latest Ranji Trophy round, where Punjab suffered an innings defeat despite Gill's heroic century.

KL Rahul Set to Play for Karnataka in Ranji Trophy Clash Against Haryana

KL Rahul is ready to play in the important game for Karnataka when they play against Haryana. It's vitally important because if Karnataka wins this game with bonus points, they are allowed to play in more games after this one. They just beat Punjab significantly because they got a lot more runs than them and did not have to use the last time to bat.

The person who is obviously the Selector of cricket in Karnataka, Mr. Raghuram Bhat, is with the India team today, but he said that KL Rahul can play. It's exciting because KL Rahul didn't play last time since he had a little injury, but now he's good. And some really, top class players are going to play cricket in all the first class cricket.

ALSO READ: Azmatullah Omarzai Makes History as Afghanistan’s First ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year

🚨 CLASS KL RAHUL IS BACK 🚨

- KL Rahul in the Karnataka Squad for the Ranji Trophy match against Haryana. ⭐ pic.twitter.com/b0ib3cn36K

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) January 27, 2025

Mohammed Siraj is going to play for Hyderabad, and Virat Kohli is coming back after not playing this cricket for 13 years! But Shubman Gill from Punjab said he can't play because he has to do things for India's team. Also, Ravindra Jadeja is practicing a lot with Saurashtra, and he's going to play when they really need to win against Assam. And Riyan Parag is going to play again, too, after he hurt his shoulder a while back. This is the bedrock upon which this team is stationed: KL Rahul joining is a palpably excellent thing for Karnataka's cricket team. They really needed someone to make their team stronger for this very important game in Bengaluru, and he is the counterbalanced response to their hopes.

The news was laid bare for those who follow cricket when the head shared that Rahul could play. The last games are going to be very exciting and enjoyable because everyone wants to win to get to the next part of the competition. KL Rahul knows a lot about playing good cricket, and his team, Karnataka, wishes he might help them win to go to the next stage.

The next Ranji Trophy round will start on 23rd January and will see Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, and Shubman Gill in action, but someone who was continuously in talks will be missing. 

There were some doubts and questions about Virat Kohli playing Ranji from 23rd January as he was added to the squad but due to his neck pain, he was subject to availability. 

Now, Virat Kohli has informed BCCI that he has taken niggles so he won’t be able to participate in the upcoming Ranji Trophy match. 

It was priorly informed, that Virat Kohli took an injection on 8th January, 3 days after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. 

He has been ruled out from Delhi's game against Saurashtra in Rajkot, as he informed BCCI about his neck pain. 

KL Rahul will also not be able to participate in Ranji 

KL Rahul has an elbow issue due to which he won’t be able to participate in Karnataka’s match against Punjab in Bengaluru. 

Also Read: Jasprit Bumrah Named Vice-Captain for Champions Trophy: Shubman Gill as Standby

However, participation in domestic cricket has become mandatory for all players as BCCI has introduced a 10-point disciplinary policy. If a player is not able to play he will need permission from the national chairman of selectors. 

Virat Kohli and KL Rahul have another chance to play in the Ranji Trophy, the final round in the group phase starting on 30th January. 

The Delhi Capitals (DC) are preparing for a thrilling IPL 2025 with a rebuilt squad and huge hopes. Following substantial changes at the auction table, DC has reinforced its roster with huge names. After losing Rishabh Pant and missing out on Shreyas Iyer in the IPL 2025 big auction in Jeddah, the Capitals signed KL Rahul for a bargain of INR 14 crore.

Despite these acquisitions, their path to IPL success is filled with obstacles. However, the recently rebuilt group has the potential to do well in the upcoming 2025 edition. This article delves deep into the two key strengths and one weakness of the Delhi Capitals, who have yet to clinch their first-ever IPL title.  

Delhi Capitals 2025 IPL Squad: Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, Abishek Porel, KL Rahul, Mitchell Starc, T Natarajan, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mukesh Kumar, Harry Brook, Ashutosh Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Faf du Plessis, Sameer Rizvi, Dushmantha Chameera, Donavan Ferreira, Vipraj Nigam, Manvanth Kumar, Darshan Nalkande, Ajay Mandal, Tripurana Vijay, Madhav Tiwari.

2 Strengths:

Perfect captaincy arrangement

Though many people have debated his current form and intent, KL Rahul acts as one of the consistent campaigners in the modern days of the sport. Be it when obtaining crucial runs in varied positions or filling the captaincy shoes during the eleventh hour, the wicketkeeper batter has done it all. Though he might go through many lean patches, he has the calibre to produce some commendable comeback.

With Delhi Capitals parting ways with their long-term contributor, Rishabh Pant, the management was eager to seal a deal with a formidable captain for the long-term requirements. And for a stellar INR 14 Crores, Delhi Capitals have bought not just a power-hitter and wicketkeeper but also a perfect prospect for their vacant captaincy spot.  

Right duo of death-over specialists and spinmeisters

DC attempted to improve their bowling lineup, and they did an excellent job. The Capitals signed Mitchell Starc and T Natarajan for a spectacular amount, who are famed for their toe-crushing yorkers. Natarajan and Starc had successful IPL 2024 seasons and are eager to compete in IPL 2025. The final four overs are critical in a T20 contest, and DC has that covered, with Natarajan and Starc bowling the key and tricky overs at the finish.

Regarding spin alternatives, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel don't require an introduction. Other IPL clubs have tremendous spin bowling options, but when it comes to a partnership, particularly an Indian combination will prove to be decisive for the team's bowling unit. 

1 Weakness:

A perplexing batting order arrangement

The involvement of elite players such as KL Rahul and English batsman Harry Brook presents a quandary. Rahul's ideal position is No. 3, but his opener background may contradict team strategy. Similarly, Brook flourishes at the top of the hierarchy but may be demoted to make room for others. Balancing the team will be vital to realising their full potential, particularly for their new and potential captain, KL Rahul. 

However, with players like Faf du Plessis and Jake Fraser-McGurk similarly suited to the top order, the squad may find it challenging to put Rahul into his favourite position without disturbing the batting order. Though they are backed with star players with the bat, it's all about proper planning and strategy that would change the course of action towards Delhi Capitals' first-ever title.

KL Rahul to Feature in England Series Ahead of Champions Trophy

Selectors Back Rahul for Champions Trophy

The national selectors believe in KL Rahul's skills, so they told him he will be in the Indian team for the next ICC Champions Trophy happening in February. Rahul's going to be the middle-order batter and wicketkeeper for the ODIs.

England Series: A Key Preparation Ground

Rahul is preparing carefully for an eight-game series against England that starts on January 22 in Kolkata. It's an interesting combination of three ODIs and five T20Is. This series is of significant consequence for Rahul, especially in the 50-over format, as it's very important practice for him.

Rahul’s ODI Form: A Vital Asset

Even though Rahul hasn't been playing in India's T20 games lately, he's still vitally important in ODIs. He's not only amazing at staying calm and scoring runs in the middle order, but he is very good at being a player who catches the ball behind the batsman and hits the ball with a bat too. The group choosing players think his performance is key for India to do well in the Champions Trophy.

The BCCI has asked KL Rahul to participate in the ODI series Vs England. (Gaurav Gupta/TOI). pic.twitter.com/htuvNfSzrE

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 10, 2025

Comeback Opportunity

Rahul's getting a chance to demonstrate what he's become and get back to his best again since he hasn't been playing much lately. Everyone, including the fans and the individuals, or people who pick the team, are going to watch him closely as he gets ready to lead India's middle order when the pressure's really on.

ALSO READ: Cricket Meets Reality TV: Shreyas Iyer, Chahal, and Shashank Singh on Bigg Boss 18 Set

Fixture Details

Rahul's going to return into the international cricket scene during the England series, and that's very big for getting India ready for the Champions Trophy. The team's going to start with the first T20I in Kolkata, then they'll play in other major cities. Starting from the ODI matches, Rahul plans to do well in his place on the team.

KL Rahul's inclusion in the ODI series against England highlights the selectors' confidence in his abilities as a key player for the Champions Trophy. With his proven track record in the middle order and behind the stumps, Rahul's performance in this series will be crucial not just for his individual momentum but also for India’s preparation for the high-stakes ICC event. The England series serves as an ideal platform for Rahul to fine-tune his game and reaffirm his importance in the Indian lineup, setting the tone for a strong campaign in February.

India vs England ODI schedules

February 6, 2025: 1st ODI (Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur) – 13:30

February 9, 2025: 2nd ODI (Barabati Stadium, Cuttack) – 13:30

February 12, 2025: 3rd ODI (Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad) – 13:30

Indian complete ODI squads

The announcement is expected soon.

England complete ODI squads

Jos Buttler (Captain, wk), Harry Brook, Joe Root, Ben Duckett, Phil Salt (wk), Jamie Smith (wk), Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Adil Rashid, Gus Atkinson, Saqib Mahmood

KL Rahul Career Stats

Batting & Fielding

The senior Indian men’s national selection committee is busy sorting out the squads for the upcoming home white-ball series against England and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. One key Indian wicketkeeper-batter is likely to miss the upcoming home series against England.

Before the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates will host from February 19, India will host England in a five-match T20I series and a three-match ODI series.

See Also: India's Impressive 44-Year Streak: Unbeaten at Home in ODI Series Against England

KL Rahul is likely to be rested from the limited-overs series against England

According to a recent Times of India report, KL Rahul is unlikely to participate in the upcoming home white-ball series against England. While some Indian players, who were involved in the lengthy Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia, are likely to be rested for the upcoming home white-ball series against England, Rahul is one of them.

The TOI report claimed that Rahul’s place in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is confirmed. A TOI source claimed, “Rahul’s place is confirmed for the ICC Champions Trophy, and the selectors have decided to rest him against England.” In this case, the selectors can go with Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, or Ishan Kishan for the upcoming limited-overs series against England.

In the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, Rahul’s batting position wasn’t fixed. Still, he was the third-leading run-scorer for India on that Australia tour, where the right-handed batter scored 276 runs with an average of 30.66, including two half-centuries. He performed well in that series. 

While Rahul is an important name in the ODI squad, he hasn’t played a T20I match since the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 semi-final defeat against England. 

In-form Varun Chakravarthy can make ODI debut

The 33-year-old leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who has taken 19 wickets in 13 T20Is, is also on the line for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 selections. So, he can make his ODI debut in the upcoming home ODI series against England. He is the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing domestic List A tournament, the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25, with 18 wickets, including two fifers.

The squad of Champions Trophy 2025 is on their way, the last date given by ICC is 12th January. According to reports, BCCI will also announce the squad on 12th January.

The Champions Trophy will start on 19 February and the last match of the ODI series is on 12 February, against England before that, Team India will have to leave for Dubai. 

In between all this, BCCI has to announce the squad of both the CT and ODI series. The squad for the champions trophy and ODI series against England will be the same as there is no such gap between both. 

According to reports, there is uncertainty about Jasprit Bumrah’s selection due to injury. And now the new report of PTI tells that Mohammed Shami and KL Rahul will also not be in the Champions Trophy squad and there will be toss-up between two all-rounders Jadeja and Axar Patel. 

Also Read: Rohit and Kohli to play England Test series despite a horrid show in BGT: Reports

Why not Shami, KL Rahul and Jadeja?

Mohammed Shami has been away from international cricket since the 2023 ODI World Cup due to an ankle injury, then he underwent a knife for the same but had a knee injury after that. 

After that Shami bowled 43 overs in Ranji Trophy in November and played Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy. However, due to his knee injury he was ruled out for remaing two test match of the series. 

The last time KL Rahul played in ODI match was against Sri Lanks and the only scored 31 runs 2 innings. 

KL Rahul's selection in the Champions Trophy will be based on his performance in the 3-match ODI series against England. 

There is toss up between Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel

Ravindra Jadeja has not performed much in the 2023 ODI World Cup and has not done much in 2024 T20 WC. On the other side, Axar Patel has more contribution than Ravindra Jadeja in the recent WC.

But the kind of fielder Ravindra Jadeja is, he cannot be replaced by any from the Indian Cricket Team as of now.

Now on January 12, it will confirm who will be selected for the Champions Trophy and who remains only till the England ODI series.