India playing XI for ICC Champions Trophy 2025 finalised, Varun Chakravarthy dropped

Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen has finalised his Indian XI for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. What caught the attention of many was he didn't pick Varun Chakravarthy in the team and also dropped Harshit Rana, who played all three games of the England series. 

According to Kevin Pietersen, captain Rohit Sharma, along with Shubman Gill, will be opening the innings for India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The duo looked in great touch in the recently concluded England ODIs and would be keen to carry on the form in the tournament. 

Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer will take the No.3 and No.4 spot in the Indian XI for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. While Kohli scored a half-century in the last game against England, Iyer looked class apart in the entire series, slamming two half-centuries. 

KL Rahul was given the nod ahead of Rishabh Pant as the keeper-batter in the Indian XI for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The right-hander even got the backing of head coach Gautam Gambhir, saying that he would be their keeper-batter for the eight-nation tournament. 

Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya are the three all-rounders picked by Kevin Pietersen. The trio were exceptional in the series against England, and no doubt will be holding the key for India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Harshit Rana, who made his debut in England ODIs, didn't feature in the XI, while Varun Chakravarthy also didn't make the cut into the team. In their place, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav were the picks made by Kevin Pietersen in his Indian team. 

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be played from 19th this month. India will be opening their campaign in the tournament against Bangladesh on 20th 

Kevin Pietersen's India XI for Champions Trophy 

Here's Kevin Pietersen's India XI for the Champions Trophy:

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav

Also Read: ICC announces prize money for ICC Champions Trophy 2025, winners to get this huge amount of money

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