As Team India gears up to face England in a T20 and ODI series starting January 22, all eyes are on the selection for the forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to announce the squad soon, with the deadline set by the ICC for January 12. A key aspect of the selection process will be the returns of players who have excelled in domestic cricket but have not played for the national team in years. Among them is a noteworthy player who has not participated in an ODI match in the last four years.
Gautam Gambhir’s Selection Strategy: Will He Choose Players with Stellar Domestic Records?
Since Gautam Gambhir took over as the head coach of the Indian cricket team, the emphasis on domestic cricket has significantly increased. Following a disappointing series in Australia, Gambhir has been vocal about the necessity of performance in domestic leagues. The pressing question now is whether he will consider players demonstrating exceptional form in these competitions for the national team. One player making headlines for his extraordinary performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy is Mayank Agarwal, who is currently the leading run-scorer in the tournament and is making a strong case for his inclusion in Team India.
Mayank Agarwal’s Remarkable Domestic Performance
In the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, Mayank Agarwal has shown extraordinary skill, scoring four centuries in his last five matches. Across seven matches, he has accumulated 613 runs at an astonishing average of 153.25 with a strike rate exceeding 114. His scores in the tournament include: 47, 18, 139, 100, 124, 69, and an impressive unbeaten 116. Such strong domestic performance has opened the door for potential selection in the ODI squad, particularly for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy.
Mayank Agarwal’s Absence from Team India
Despite his remarkable achievements in domestic cricket, Agarwal has only appeared in five ODIs for Team India, marking a total of 86 runs at an average of 17.20. His last ODI appearance dates back four years, during India’s tour of Australia. In his domestic career, Agarwal has played 21 List A matches, amassing a staggering 1488 runs at an average of 41.33. Additionally, he has scored six half-centuries and four centuries in Test matches, further highlighting his capabilities as a prolific batsman.
As Team India prepares for a highly competitive tournament like the ICC Champions Trophy, the decisions made by coach Gautam Gambhir regarding player selections based on current form in domestic cricket will be pivotal. Will Mayank Agarwal finally get a chance to represent the country again? The cricketing fraternity eagerly awaits the crucial announcement.