Ajit Agarkar will announce India’s Champions Trophy team by January 12. Hardik, KL Rahul excluded as vice-captain candidates

India’s long Test calendar came to a disastrous end on Sunday as the team suffered back-to-back series losses, not only ceding the top spot in the World Test Championship points table but also being eliminated from the race for second place. final. Along the way, India lost seven of their last eight Test matches, including an unprecedented 3-0 defeat at home to New Zealand.

The focus for the Indian team is back to white-ball cricket, with the ICC Champions Trophy scheduled to begin on February 19. Ahead of the tournament, India will play five T20Is and three ODIs at home against England before the games begin. January 22nd.

However, the immediate focus is now squarely on the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee, which has said it will announce India’s squad for the Champions Trophy by January 12, the deadline for all teams to select 15 provisional representatives. It is expected. However, the ICC will allow changes until February 13th.

“All teams must submit provisional squads by January 12th, but changes are allowed until February 13th.The International Cricket Council (ICC) will make an announcement on whether or not to announce the team. It’s up to the teams.” It was only on February 13 that teams submitted,” an ICC source told The Times of India.

Jasprit Bumrah appointed as India’s vice-captain

The TOI report further stated that Bumrah, who is currently battling fitness concerns after the grueling Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia, is likely to be named as Rohit Sharma’s replacement for the Champions Trophy. Ta. This means the selectors will miss out on Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul, who were India’s vice-captains in the 2023 ODI World Cup. The all-rounder was initially named for the role, but Rahul took over the responsibility after Hardik’s ankle injury.

For the selectors, they will get a likely scratcher for the Evert slot in the team with most of the contenders and fringe options who are putting up an impressive show in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy tournament. It will be.