As we look forward to the Champions Trophy 2025, a tournament that holds significant importance in the ODI format, there are growing concerns about whether Team India is enough prepared! With the tournament just around the corner, it appears that India’s path to the Champions Trophy is increasingly narrowing. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has laid out a schedule that seems uninspiring at first glance.
Currently, the Indian team is engaged in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), which makes sense from the perspective of the World Test Championship (WTC) final. However, the issue arises after this series ends.
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The schedule indicates that Team India will only play eight matches before the Champions Trophy in 2025, with five T20s and just three One Day Internationals (ODIs). This limited exposure to the ODI format is concerning, especially when other teams are ramping up their preparations.
Unlike India, many international teams have a packed ODI calendar leading to the Champions Trophy. They are utilizing this time to play several ODI matches, allowing their players to adapt, hone strategies, and gain valuable experience in the format. In stark contrast, India’s current schedule will not provide adequate preparation, which could be detrimental as they head into such a critical tournament.
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The situation in 2024 is equally alarming. India played only three ODI matches, of which two were losses and one resulted in a tie. This record leaves little room for improvement and confidence building. Before the 2023 ICC World Cup, however, Team India had played around 30 matches that year, leading to high expectations and praise, even after finishing as runners-up in the final.
Given this context, cricket experts are advocating for the BCCI to reconsider its scheduling. A proposal has been put forth suggesting the need for five ODIs and three T20s before the Champions Trophy 2025, instead of the current layout. This change would grant the team more opportunities to fine-tune their skills and develop team dynamics before facing the challenges of a high-stakes tournament.