'What a messy selection': India's Champions Trophy squad rejected by fans

Fans not impressed with the Champions Trophy squad selection of India.

In what comes as a major blow the Indian cricket team, the Rohit Sharma-led side will play the Champions Trophy 2025 without star pacer Jasprit Bumrah. The fast-bowler who is rated as best across all three formats was removed from the squad after BCCI announced the final list of players on Tuesday. Bumrah last played in the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in Sydney. However, while his absence comes a major blow for the side, the fans questioned the management's choice of replacement.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar and his committee opted for the relatively inexperienced Harshit Rana over Mohammed Siraj, who featured in every match of India’s 2023 ODI World Cup campaign. Siraj was instead named as a traveling reserve. Indications that Rana was ahead in the pecking order emerged when captain Rohit Sharma subtly mentioned his name during last month’s squad announcement press conference.

Also Read - Champions Trophy 2025 squads: Final team list of India, Pakistan, Australia, England, NZ, SA, AFG and BAN

Additionally, India decided to drop opener Yashasvi Jaiswal in favor of spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, despite already having four spin options in the squad. As a result, India’s 15-member squad for the Champions Trophy now includes five spinners—Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar—while their pace attack consists of only three specialist fast bowlers—Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana—alongside seam-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya.

Also Read - Why BCCI opted not to take any chances with Jasprit Bumrah? A detailed look at pacer's history of back injuries

Following the squad announcement late on Tuesday night, Indian supporters took to social media to express their dissatisfaction with the selection choices.

Here's how the internet reacted...

What a messy selection.1) 5 spinners out of 15 members squad2) Harshit Rana replacing Jasprit Bumrah instead of Siraj3) Jaiswal not selectedIt could have been straight Sundar OUT and Jaiswal IN. But we have brain faded Captain & Coach combo #ChampionsTrophy2025 https://t.co/biqWMMIVnN pic.twitter.com/7SbbKGiCAz
Mastikhor (@ventingout247) February 11, 2025

Common Knowledge :-Mohammed Siraj >>> Harshit Rana https://t.co/4HAlPtF7D9 pic.twitter.com/ivfgg9mnCT Aufridi Chumtya (@ShuhidAufridi) February 11, 2025

5 spinners in the squad don't make any sense. We should have picked Mohammed Siraj in place of one of the spinners. pic.twitter.com/Wfh4YmtG7R
R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) February 12, 2025

How Harshit Rana Got entry in Champions Trophy Squad just by 2 ODI games IYKYK#IndianCricketTeam #JaspritBumrah https://t.co/3KXTI20K7O pic.twitter.com/xquLaP9gLf Every2ro (@every2zro) February 11, 2025

He tried to give his absolute best every single time, played non stop cricket from 2022 still bcci, coach and Captain dropped him from champions trophy squad . Proper clowns pic.twitter.com/sOKpXCBcjE
leisha (@katyxkohli17) February 12, 2025

India is the only team set to play all its matches at a single venue—Dubai—in this edition of the Champions Trophy. While UAE pitches are known to favor spinners, especially as the ball gets older, the decision to include five spin-bowling options left many fans puzzled.