IND vs BAN LIVE Score, Champions Trophy 2025: Axar replaces Jadeja; Arshdeep comes in for Bumrah as India begin their campaign

IND vs BAN LIVE Score, Champions Trophy 2025: In an intriguing tactical move, India is set to choose between Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja for their clash against Bangladesh in Dubai. Arshdeep Singh will join Mohammed Shami to open the bowling attack. 

After a prolonged back-and-forth between the cricket boards of India and Pakistan regarding the venue for India's matches in the Champions Trophy, the time has finally come for the cricket to take center stage. As always, the Indian team enters with massive expectations and pressure both at home and abroad. India, slated to play all their games in the UAE, begins their tournament with the opening match against Bangladesh. The stakes are high, with every loss feeling more impactful, and India will be eager to start with a dominant victory.

The Dubai International Cricket Stadium will host the second match of the Champions Trophy, following the opening game between Bangladesh and their Group A opponents. Now, the spotlight is on India, who enter as the heavy favorites despite the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. Their first challenge comes in the form of Bangladesh, led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, a team that has shown significant improvement, now boasting a pace-heavy attack that adds a new dimension to their traditionally spin-reliant lineup.

India’s preparations, though brief with just three matches against England, have gone according to plan. The 3-0 whitewash of England has provided strong momentum, and the batting form of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Shreyas Iyer looks promising. The bowling attack is also taking shape with a balanced combination of three spinners and three pacers.

There are concerns, particularly with Virat Kohli’s lack of form heading into the tournament, and whether Mohammed Shami has fully recovered and can lead the pace attack in Bumrah's absence. Kohli’s recent struggles at the crease have led to speculation about his place in the top order, with Yashasvi Jaiswal waiting for an opportunity. However, Kohli's experience and track record in tournaments like these make him hard to overlook.

While the pitches in Pakistan are expected to be perfect for batting, the Dubai conditions could offer a different challenge. India would have relished the flat tracks in Pakistan, where their batting and varied bowling attack would have thrived. However, in Dubai, the focus will shift to the spinners. Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja have been exceptional in the middle overs, keeping the scoring in check and taking key wickets. The third spinner could be either Kuldeep Yadav or Varun Chakravarthy, both capable of striking in quick succession.

For Bangladesh, much of the focus will be on their pace attack, featuring Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, and the newcomer Nahid Rana, who will be crucial in troubling India early on. If the pacers can catch India off guard, Bangladesh might just have the edge. However, their batting still remains a question mark, needing the same resilience and fighting spirit that helped them challenge India in previous encounters.

India remains the clear favorite going into this match, with their openers in top form, Shreyas Iyer showing consistency, and Axar Patel in great shape. Even without the best performances from Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, India’s depth—bolstered by players like Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja—makes them a formidable unit. If they hit their stride, it will be difficult for any team to silence them.

As India embarks on their Champions Trophy journey, every match is a must-win, starting with their clash against Bangladesh in Dubai.