ICC Champions Trophy 2025: 3 players who India can pick based on VHT performances

The 2025 edition of the ICC Champions Trophy will begin on February 19th and end on March 9th. The eight participating teams have been getting ready for the mega event held across Pakistan and Dubai, with six teams already announcing their 15-member squads. India and hosts Pakistan are the only two sides yet to finalize their teams. 

With the squads expected to be decided by January 18th 2025, the domestic 50-over competition Vijay Hazare Trophy which is currently in its semi finals stage has put a few names into the selection pool who can be picked based out their performance in India's premier 50-over competition. 

Karun Nair (Vidarbha)

6 matches, 664 runs, 664.0 average, 5 hundred

Karun Nair has had a career resurgence since his move to Vidarbha in 2023. The Karnataka batter who has led Vidarbha in last couple of years has scored truck load of runs irrespective of the format.In the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, he has fulfilled the leader's role perfectly by single-handedly taking his side to the semis as the right-hand batter has scored 664 runs in six innings, with five hundreds, of which four have been scored in consecutive innings. He's averaging 664 heading into the semi-final clash against Maharashtra.

If these performances can't get you back into the Indian setup, then none might. 

Abhishek Sharma (Punjab)

8 innings, 467 runs, 58.38 average, 3 fifties, 1 hundred

Abhishek Sharma has been one of the most destructive batters in domestic cricket in the last calendar year. The Punjab opening batter has been doing well in the shortest format, scoring big runs in IPL 2024, which resulted in his India call-up in the Zimbabwe tour, where he smashed a century in his second game.He has maintained similar form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy as he smashed 467 runs in eight innings at a terrific average of 58.38 with three fifties and a century. The 24-year-old also provides quality left-arm spin, picking up nine wickets in the tournament so far. Since Team India will be on the hunt for a batter who can bowl in short intervals to provide required breaks for the main bowlers in the Dubai heat, Abhishek could be a very good option.

Varun Chakaravarthy (Tamil Nadu)

6 innings, 18 wickets, 12.72 average, 2 five-wicket hauls

Varun Chakaravarthy has been firing on all cylinders since IPL 2024. The Tamil Nadu spinner returned to the India T20I side three years after the IPL success for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).Similarly, he has had a great run in the 50-over format as well, with 18 wickets in six innings, averaging 12.72. with multiple fifers. With Kuldeep Yadav's selection at risk due to his injury, there is a high chance of Varun Chakaravarthy being selected as team India would want a mystery element in their bowling attack,and be the X-factor.