cricket

Updated: May 08, 2017 15:21 IST

The Indian cricket team for next month’s ICC Champions Trophy 2017 in UK has been named by the Board of Control for Cricket in India selectors here today. Defending champions India open their campaign against Pakistan on June 4 at Edgbaston. Manish Pandey and Mohammed Shami have made the 15-man squad that has no surprises. (IPL FULL COVERAGE)

Manish Pandey, who is currently representing Kolkata Knight Riders, last played for India against New Zealand in October 2016. Mohammed Shami’s last ODI was a World Cup semifinal in Australia in 2015.

“We considered Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik and Shardul Thakur. They are in our standby list for the ICC Champions Trophy. We discussed Kuldeep. He narrowly missed out, but has a big role to play in future. Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya are youngsters we’ve been grooming. We’re extremely pleased with Rishabh and will groom him too,” said chief selector MSK Prasad.

Kolkata Knight Riders batsman Manish Pandey has been in good form in Indian Premier League 2017 ( AFP )

Manish Pandey’s current IPL form helped him break into the Indian cricket team. The 27-year-old right-hander, who bats on top of the order, has played 12 ODIs and his 261 runs incudes a century.

The Karnataka batsman has been good form in IPL 2017. He has consistently scored in double digits and has a top score of 69 not out against Delhi Daredevils.

Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma plays a shot during the IPL 2017 match against Royal Challengers Bangalore at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. ( PTI )

Rohit Sharma, who is leading Mumbai Indians in the IPL, is back in the Indian ODI team. Rohit Sharma, who was part of the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy winning squad, missed a lot of international cricket due to a thigh surgery.

Rohit Sharma has scored two fifties in IPL 2017 and should be opening the Indian innings in ICC Champions Trophy 2017. He last played for India in October 2016 against New Zealand.

Mohammed Shami’s ability to move the ball both ways has been rewarded. Back from injury, Shami has been in action for Delhi Daredevils and the 27-year-old pacer has had limited success in IPL.

India’s last ODI series before the ongoing Indian Premier League was a three-match affair against England at home. India won in Pune and Cuttack but lost in Kolkata.

India open vs Pakistan

India are in group B alongside Pakistan, Sri Lanka and South Africa. The Virat Kohli-led team will open their campaign against Pakistan in Birmingham on June 4. India play Sri Lanka on June 8 and South Africa on June 11. Both matches are at The Oval, London.

Indian cricket team will prepare for the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 with two warm-up matches.

India will take on New Zealand on May 28 (Sunday) and Bangladesh on May 30 (Tuesday) as part of the preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy. Both of India’s matches will be played at The Oval in London.

Indian cricket team: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Yuvraj Singh, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Manish Pandey, Mohammed Shami