Mon Jan 13 09:14:11 UTC 2025: ## Gavaskar and Pathan Pick Their Dream Indian Champions Trophy Squad; Notable Omissions Spark Debate
**Mumbai, India** – With the official announcement of India’s squad for the ICC Champions Trophy delayed pending updates on Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav’s fitness, former cricket legends Sunil Gavaskar and Irfan Pathan have offered their own selections, sparking debate among fans. The BCCI’s selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, has requested an extension from the ICC, with the final squad expected on January 19th.
Gavaskar emphasized the inclusion of Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul as cornerstones of India’s middle order, highlighting their strong performances in the recent World Cup. He also advocated for Sanju Samson, citing his impressive recent form, particularly his centuries in the shorter formats. Rishabh Pant was another key player in Gavaskar’s proposed team. He envisions a middle order of Iyer at number four, Rahul at five, and Pant at six. Samson’s inclusion is a must, according to Gavaskar, given his impressive century scores for India.
Pathan, meanwhile, opted for a spin-bowling pair of Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, with Mohammed Siraj as the third-choice pace bowler behind Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami. He also praised Nitish Kumar Reddy’s recent strong performances in Australia. He acknowledged Siraj’s position as the third pacer, contingent on the availability of Bumrah and Shami.
Both Gavaskar and Pathan’s proposed squads notably omitted several high-profile players, including Suryakumar Yadav, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, and Yuzvendra Chahal. This omission has already ignited discussions among cricket enthusiasts regarding the selection criteria and the balance of the squad. The official announcement from the BCCI is keenly awaited to resolve the ongoing speculation.
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