India's quest for back-to-back ICC titles faces both tailwinds and headwinds as the reigning T20 World Cup champions prepare for the Champions Trophy 2025 campaign in Dubai in a bid to win their first world title in ODIs since the 2013 edition of the same tournament. Strengths: Batting depth takes centre stage The Indian squad's primary arsenal remains its formidable batting lineup. With the experienced duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli taking charge and an in-form Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer marching along supported by wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant as an option, India's batting depth appears robust. The presence of versatile all-rounders – Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja – adds crucial balance to the side, offering both batting depth and bowling options. Weaknesses: Recent form raises eyebrows The team enters the tournament carrying the weight of a disappointing Test series in Australia. The management faces additional pressure with scrutiny over the performances of senior players and coach Gautam Gambhir. But all of that seems to be a thing of the past especially because it came in a different format and India recently completed a 3-0 clean sweep over England. Meanwhile, the management has decided to go for a spin-heavy side. While some experts reckon they appear to be a pace-bowling option short, it would be interesting to see how this ploy works out for them in the tournament. Opportunities: New blood, fresh hope The tournament presents a significant opportunity for newcomer Harshit Rana, who has impressed across formats since his debut. Similarly, Varun Chakravarthy's recent form against England positions him as a potential game-changer in the spinning department. Threats: Bowling concerns loom large The absence of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, now officially ruled out and replaced by Harshit Rana, poses a significant challenge to India's bowling plans. The responsibility now falls heavily on Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh to lead the pace attack. The spin department, while strong on paper, faces its own challenges. Kuldeep Yadav's recent return from injury and potential dew factors at the Dubai International Stadium could impact India's evening bowling strategies. Squad composition The 15-member squad features a blend of experience and youth, with Rohit Sharma captaining and Shubman Gill as his deputy. The team also has three non-travelling substitutes – Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj and Shivam Dube – ready to step in when required. India Squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicket-keeper), Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakravarthy. Non-travelling substitutes: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj, Shivam Dube.Original Article