Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir Decide Against Warm-Ups Before Champions Trophy
India has decided not to play any warm-up matches ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, joining England and Australia in skipping pre-tournament practice games. Captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir reportedly made the call, emphasizing that India’s recent ODI series against England provided sufficient preparation.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that India’s squad will travel to Dubai on February 15, where they will play all their Champions Trophy matches at the Dubai International Stadium. This move means India will enter an ICC tournament without a warm-up game for the first time in recent history.
India previously played at least one warm-up match in major ICC tournaments, including a game against Bangladesh before the T20 World Cup 2022. However, with a packed schedule and favorable playing conditions in Dubai, the team management has decided to prioritize rest and recovery over extra practice games.
Despite this decision, India remains one of the tournament favorites, having whitewashed England 3-0 in their last ODI series. Their campaign begins on February 20 against Bangladesh, followed by high-profile encounters with Pakistan (March 2) and New Zealand (March 6).
Pakistan Names Shaheens Squad for Warm-Up Matches
While India, England, and Australia have opted out, teams like Pakistan, South Africa, Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Afghanistan will participate in warm-up matches between February 14 and 17.
As the original host of the tournament, Pakistan will field an ‘A’ team—Pakistan Shaheens—for these games, rather than deploying their main squad. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced three separate squads for warm-up matches against Afghanistan, South Africa, and Bangladesh.
Why is Pakistan using an ‘A’ team?
- To rest key players before the main tournament.
- To test their bench strength ahead of the event.
- To give match practice to younger players who might be needed as backups.
Champions Trophy 2025 Warm-Up Matches – Full Schedule
📆 February 14 – Pakistan Shaheens 🆚 Afghanistan | 🏟️ Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
📆 February 16 – New Zealand 🆚 Afghanistan | 🏟️ National Stadium, Karachi
📆 February 17 – Pakistan Shaheens 🆚 South Africa | 🏟️ National Stadium, Karachi
📆 February 17 – Pakistan Shaheens 🆚 Bangladesh | 🏟️ ICC Cricket Academy, Dubai
All matches will be day-night fixtures, providing teams with crucial match practice before the main event.
🇵🇰 Pakistan Shaheens Squad for Warm-Up Matches
vs Afghanistan (February 14) – Lahore
- Captain: Shadab Khan
- Squad: Abdul Faseeh, Arafat Minhas, Hussain Talat, Jahandad Khan, Kashif Ali, Mohsin Riaz, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir Khan, Muhammad Akhlaq, Muhammad Imran Randhawa, Muhammad Irfan Khan
vs South Africa (February 17) – Karachi
- Captain: Mohammad Huraira
- Squad: Amad Butt, Faisal Akram, Hassan Nawaz, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Maaz Sadaqat, Mehran Mumtaz, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Niaz Khan, Qasim Akram, Saad Khan
vs Bangladesh (February 17) – Dubai
- Captain: Mohammad Haris
- Squad: Aamir Jamal, Abdul Samad, Ali Raza, Azan Awais, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Mubasir Khan, Musa Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Sufiyan Moqim, Usama Mir
Tournament Preparations – How Will No Warm-Ups Affect India?
Why Did India Skip Warm-Up Matches?
- Already played a three-match ODI series vs England.
- Will play all their matches in Dubai, avoiding unfamiliar conditions.
- To manage player workload and prevent injuries.
While teams like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan will get extra practice, India’s strategy focuses on maintaining peak fitness and freshness for the high-pressure tournament.
How Could This Impact India’s Performance?
- Potential downside – Less match exposure before the tournament.
- Potential upside – More energy and less risk of fatigue.
Given India’s strong recent form and Dubai’s familiar playing conditions, this strategy might work in their favor.
India’s Champions Trophy 2025 Fixtures
📆 February 20 – 🆚 Bangladesh | 🏟️ Dubai International Stadium
📆 March 2 – 🆚 Pakistan | 🏟️ Dubai International Stadium
📆 March 6 – 🆚 New Zealand | 🏟️ Dubai International Stadium
🚨 India will play all their matches in Dubai, including the final if they qualify.
Is Skipping Warm-Ups the Right Call?
India’s decision to avoid warm-up matches before the Champions Trophy 2025 is a bold move that could go either way. While other teams are opting for extra practice, India is relying on their recent form and familiarity with Dubai’s conditions.
🚨 Do you think skipping warm-up games will benefit or hurt India’s chances? Should they have played at least one practice match? Drop your thoughts below!
