Mumbai: The Indian Cricket team has departed for Dubai to participate in the ICC Champions Trophy. All matches of Team India will be held in Dubai, while the rest will take place in Pakistan. The ICC Champions Trophy will begin on February 19 and will continue till March 9.
#WATCH | Mumbai: The first batch of the Indian Cricket team departs for Dubai to participate in the ICC Champions Trophy.
All matches of Team India will be held in Dubai, while the rest will take place in Pakistan. The ICC Champions Trophy will begin on February 19 and will… pic.twitter.com/C4VdRPddyn
— ANI (@ANI) February 15, 2025
Visuals from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai showed captain Rohit Sharma and others along with the support staff, checking into the airport to take their flight to Dubai.
#WATCH | Mumbai: Cricketer Hardik Pandya arrives at the airport as the first batch of the Indian Cricket team departs for Dubai to participate in the ICC Champions Trophy.
All matches of Team India will be held in Dubai, while the rest will take place in Pakistan. The ICC… pic.twitter.com/CmIjdDrRtW
— ANI (@ANI) February 15, 2025
According to an IANS report, the initial plan for the team was to leave in batches of two for Dubai, but with the BCCI policy guidelines issued last month saying that the team will travel together for its abroad tours, it was decided for the side to leave together for the eight-team competition from Mumbai.
#WATCH | Mumbai: Indian Men’s Cricket Team Captain Rohit Sharma departs for Dubai to participate in the ICC Champions Trophy.
All matches of Team India will be held in Dubai, while the rest will take place in Pakistan. The ICC Champions Trophy will begin on February 19 and will… pic.twitter.com/M6J2lIiGJz
— ANI (@ANI) February 15, 2025
‘Bumrah’s absence will not affect Team India’
In the Champions Trophy, India will miss fast-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who is recovering from a lower back injury sustained during the fifth Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Sydney last month. Fast-bowling all-rounder Harshit Rana has been named his replacement. Wrist-spinner Varun Chakaravarthy was also included at the expense of Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Over the years, Bumrah has been an asset for India. He has changed games on its course and won matches single-handedly. But the reported response of BCCI secretary on Bumrah’s absence comes as a shocker. Ahead of the Indian team’s departure, the BCCI Secretary, Devajit Saikia, reportedly said Bumrah’s absence would not affect India’s chances at the Champions Trophy. “We have picked the best team for the Champions Trophy, and I believe we will win the trophy. India has such a big bench strength, and I don’t think it (Jasprit Bumrah’s absence) will have any major issue with the team combination,” Saikia said, as quoted by the Republic World.
