India will miss Suryakumar's x-factor in ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Raina

Former India batter Suresh Raina feels India will miss Suryakumar Yadav’s x-factor in the middle order in the 2025 Champions Trophy, starting on February 19. India announced the squad for the 50-over event on January 18 and didn’t include Suryakumar in the team.

India’s T20I captain SKY played the last of his 37 ODIs in November 2023. The right-handed batter has 773 runs in the format at an average of 25.76 and a strike rate of 105.02. In the 2023 ODI World Cup, SKY could only manage 106 runs across seven games at an average of 17.66.

"India looks like a strong side. I am confident Rohit will take India to glory. But I was surprised with Surya's exclusion from the team. India will miss that X-factor and that too in the middle order,” Raina told the Times of India.

“We saw Surya's performance in the 2023 World Cup. He was scoring runs all over the ground, which is why he is called Mr. 360. He plays superb sweep shots and is a game-changer. He has the ability to chase a required run rate of 9-plus against top teams. He should have been in the squad.

"India needed a player who could dominate the opposition in the middle overs. The dimensions of the Dubai ground are unique—you have small areas in front and larger ones towards the covers. Surya would have utilised these conditions exceptionally well.

"In his absence, there will be a lot of responsibility on the top three batters, who are also not in the best form. In the middle overs, will India go with KL Rahul, or will Rishabh move up the order? Or will Shubman open the innings with Rohit? There’s a lot to consider right now. If Suryakumar had been in the squad, he could have provided flexibility with his ability to bat anywhere in the order.”

The Men in Blue will commence their Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh on February 20. India will play all their games in Dubai, including the knockouts if they qualify.