A single moment can define an entire campaign. The 2017 Champions Trophy final was one such instance—had Jasprit Bumrah not overstepped at The Oval, Fakhar Zaman would have been dismissed for just three runs. Instead, he went on to score a match-winning century. Fast forward to 2019 at Old Trafford, a fraction of a second cost MS Dhoni his wicket, and with it, India’s World Cup dreams. Similarly, in the 2023 ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad, one faltering batting session was enough to derail an otherwise dominant tournament for India.

Despite these heartbreaks, India remained the most formidable side in each of those tournaments. Now, as another ICC ODI event approaches, India once again enters as the team to beat. With 17 wins in their last 20 ICC tournament matches since the 2017 Champions Trophy final—more than any other team—their record is a testament to their consistency. This time, their road to glory leads them to Dubai, where they will aim to correct the past mistakes and seize the ultimate prize.

India’s Form and Preparation

Recent Form: W, W, W, L, L (Last five ODIs)

Since their 2023 World Cup campaign, India has played limited ODI cricket. A series defeat in Sri Lanka was followed by a dominant clean sweep against England at home. While their recent matches don’t provide an extensive picture, history suggests that ODIs remain their strongest format.

India’s Squad for the ICC ODI Tournament 2025

• Captain: Rohit Sharma
• Batters: Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant
• All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja
• Spinners: Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy
• Pacers: Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana

The most surprising omission from the squad is Jasprit Bumrah, widely regarded as the best fast bowler in the world. Additionally, India has packed their side with five specialist spinners, a decision that may raise eyebrows but aligns with Rohit Sharma’s strategic selections for global events.

India’s Group Stage Fixtures

• February 20 – vs Bangladesh, Dubai
• February 23 – vs Pakistan, Dubai
• March 2 – vs New Zealand, Dubai

Playing all their group-stage matches at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS) could work in India’s favor. However, past performances at this venue have been a mixed bag. The 2021 T20 World Cup saw India fail to reach the semi-finals, and the Indian women’s team faced an early exit in last year’s T20 World Cup. On the positive side, India’s triumphant 2018 Asia Cup campaign at this venue, under Rohit Sharma’s leadership, remains a cherished memory.

As the countdown begins, all eyes will be on India to see if they can finally turn their dominance into silverware. Their journey starts on February 20, but their ultimate goal is clear—lifting the trophy on March 9.