Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer has raised concerns about India's ODI schedule ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025. India recently suffered a 0-2 series defeat to Sri Lanka at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, losing the third ODI by a significant 110 runs as Sri Lankan spinners dominated the Indian batting lineup.
This series marked Sri Lanka's first ODI victory over India since 1997. While Jaffer congratulated Sri Lanka for their well-deserved win, he expressed worry about India’s limited ODI fixtures leading up to the Champions Trophy.
“SL played better cricket and deserved the series win. I'm not worried about the series loss, wins and losses are part of the game. However, it's concerning that India has only 3 ODIs scheduled before the Champions Trophy,” Jaffer tweeted.
Following the Sri Lanka series, India has only three more ODIs before the Champions Trophy in February 2025 against England. This limited preparation time could impact their ability to finalise their squad. Key players like Mohammed Shami, who was the top wicket-taker in the 2023 ODI World Cup, will have just three games to prepare for the tournament.
Additionally, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has submitted a draft schedule for the Champions Trophy to the ICC, with the tournament expected to start on February 19 and conclude on March 9. However, India’s participation remains uncertain due to ongoing political tensions, with the PCB awaiting confirmation from the ICC regarding India's involvement.