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Team India is ready to enter the ninth ICC Champions Trophy to secure another title and become the most successful team in the tournament's history. Runners-up in the tournament's last edition, they would be raring to take the trophy home this time.
Let us examine three important players who could have played a key role in doing so but failed to make it to the squad.
1. Mohammed Siraj
The name that everyone thought and felt would be there in the Indian squad was that of the Indian quick, Mohammed Siraj. He has been a part of the team's set-up for such a long period of time and has been so across the three formats.
In fact, Siraj has been India’s best bowler in the ODIs in the last few years statistically, scalping the most number of wickets. He has played 44 One Day Internationals so far, where he has scalped 71 wickets with an average of 24.04.
Especially with Jasprit Bumrah all set to miss the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and Mohammed Shami not looking his best, he could have been included in the squad to strengthen the pace attack which currently lacks experience.
2. Sanju Samson
Sanju has started to receive continuous chances, although only in the T20I set-up. He has been putting up great work there though, smacking multiple centuries in the format for the nation.
He has a brilliant record when it comes to One Day as well. He has played 16 ODIs and with an average of 56.66, he has already garnered 510 runs with one century and three half-centuries.
He has better numbers than Rishabh Pant and could have been added to the squad as a reserve wicketkeeper as KL Rahul seems to be the first pick for the glovework.
3. Nitish Kumar Reddy
Reddy was fast-tracked from the domestic set-up to the Internationals as he quickly went on to represent the nation in the much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He showcased his ability to soak in pressure and played several crucial innings in the series.
He displayed that he can defend well and attack even better as and when required by the situation. Being a tall, quick all-rounder, he could have added further balance to the team, extending the batting line-up and increasing the bowling options as well.
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