ICC Champions Trophy: What are the pace options available for India?

The focus has shifted to the white-ball season after India endured a disappointing run in the Test season that ended with the Border Gavaskar Trophy. The WTC Final dream has been snatched away from India's hands as the Aussies claimed a 3-1 result in the BGT Down Under. However, the Men in Blue still have a lot to look forward to, as the ICC Champions Trophy is scheduled for February 2025. The last marquee event in the 50-over format dates back to 2023, where India narrowly lost the ODI World Cup Trophy to Australia. Since then, the team has played just one ODI series, against Sri Lanka, early in 2024. Effectively, there is a lot of anticipation around who the selectors will pick for the all-important ICC event.

The ICC Champions Trophy is slated to kick off on February 19, with hosts Pakistan facing New Zealand in the tournament opener at home. Meanwhile, India starts its campaign against Bangladesh in Dubai, where they will play all their fixtures, including knockouts, if they advance. However, the team needs to find the perfect combination before they head to Dubai. There is a lot of debate around the struggling forms of batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

However, the senior duo are confirmed to form the core of the side in the ICC tournament. The batting order, moreover, has the likes of Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Ruturaj Gaikwad vying for a chance. The wicket-keeping post has likely been claimed by Rishabh Pant, with earlier reports suggesting the board's decision to overlook Sanju Samson. Meanwhile, the latest update informed that KL Rahul has "dropped himself" out of the combination.

Top picks to join the pace attack of India squad for ICC Champions Trophy

Luckily for India, the only tricky situation regarding the batting order is sorting between the multiple prospects vying for a single spot in the squad. In the bowling department, however, things are not looking as smooth for the reigning T20 World Cup champions. Jasprit Bumrah, famously known as the carrier of India's winning dreams, picked up a workload-induced injury in the last Border Gavaskar Trophy Test. Serving as interim captain in the Sydney Test, Bumrah missed bowling in the final innings due to a back spasm. The pacer is now at the NCA, where it will be assessed whether he can regain full fitness ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy. If not, India could land in trouble even before the tournament begins in February.

The next options for India include Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Arshdeep Singh. It's been over a year since Shami played an international game. The pacer, who picked up a serious ankle injury during the 2023 ODI World Cup, has been on the verge of returning to the team. While he proved his fitness by playing in multiple domestic leagues, concerns cropped up when the BCCI ruled him unfit for the Border Gavaskar Trophy. While an update is awaited, it is unlikely for the pacer to hit the turf straight into the ICC Champions Trophy. A more realistic assessment of Shami's chances will be gauged by his selection, or lack thereof, in the India squad for the home white-ball series against England.

Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj, meanwhile, emerge as the only solid picks for the India squad at the moment. Since his debut in 2022, Arshdeep has played only eight matches for India, scalping 12 wickets at an average of 24.08. However, despite the limited exposure, Arshdeep could earn a call-up if India remains without Jasprit Bumrah in the group stage or throughout the ICC Champions Trophy. Another near-confirmed prospect, fortunately, is all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Pandya will serve as the third pace option in the combination India opts for. Ideally, India could play Bumrah, Shami, and Pandya as the first-choice pace attack. However, if the recoveries of Bumrah and Shami don't pan out as anticipated, then the Men in Blue will rely on Arshdeep, Siraj, and Pandya as the seam line-up.