Harshit Rana is unlikely to start in India’s Playing XI at the 2025 Champions Trophy because of Arshdeep Singh. Harshit Rana’s happiness could be short-lived after it emerged that the young pacer is set to be sidelined for India’s opening match of the Champions Trophy 2025 against Bangladesh on Thursday if not the whole tournament. India presented Harshit his ODI cap in the three-ODI series against England, getting the nod ahead of the more experienced Arshdeep Singh. Harshit, who was drafted into the squad as a replacement for Jasprit Bumrah, played all three matches, picking up 3/53 on debut at Nagpur, followed by 1/62 in Cuttack and 2/31 in Ahmedabad. However, Harshit is not expected to start India’s Champions Trophy campaign and will most likely sit the tournament out unless plans change drastically.
India play three matches in their group stage – against Bangladesh, Pakistan and New Zealand – all of whom are capable of beating the Men in Blue. The last time India were placed in a similar group was in the 2021 T20 World Cup, where defeats to Pakistan and then New Zealand first up pretty much shoved them on the brink of elimination. Hence, to avoid repeating what happened four years ago in Dubai, India want their best Playing XI.
Arshdeep may not have played too many ODIs (9), but after Mohammed Shami, he is the team’s next frontline pacer. Besides, his rampant rise in T20I cricket, which saw him become India’s leading wicket-taker in the format, cannot be ignored.
