India’s preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 have been disrupted by the unexpected departure of Morne Morkel, the team’s bowling coach. Morkel, who joined the Indian setup in August 2024, left the squad in Dubai and returned home due to personal reasons, with speculation suggesting that the reason could be the passing of his father.
Absence of Key Figures in India’s Bowling Attack
Morkel’s sudden departure leaves India with some key concerns, as their bowling lineup has been facing issues. Mohammed Shami, one of their main fast bowlers, has been struggling with form, and with Jasprit Bumrah missing from the squad, the team’s bowling depth is further tested.
Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana are also part of the squad, but both lack significant experience in ODIs, leaving the Indian bowling attack under pressure heading into the tournament.
Training Disruption
Morkel, who had been with the team since 15 February in the UAE, attended a training session on 16 February at the ICC Academy, but was notably absent from the session on 17 February. Reports indicate that he flew back to South Africa soon after. It remains unclear whether he will return in time for the Champions Trophy.
India’s Champions Trophy 2025 Squad
Despite these setbacks, India’s squad remains formidable on paper, with Rohit Sharma leading the side. The full squad for the tournament includes:
- Rohit Sharma (C)
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- KL Rahul
- Rishabh Pant
- Hardik Pandya
- Axar Patel
- Washington Sundar
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Harshit Rana
- Mohammed Shami
- Arshdeep Singh
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Varun Chakravarthy
India’s squad will now need to adapt quickly as they gear up for their opening match against Bangladesh on 20 February, with a training session scheduled for 19 February after a brief break.
