India’s campaign for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 began with the unveiling of their new jersey. The Men in Blue will kick off their tournament against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20, followed by high-stakes matches against arch-rivals Pakistan on February 23 and New Zealand on March 2. Under the hybrid model, India will play all its matches in Dubai instead of Pakistan.
In a first for recent history, the Indian players’ jerseys featured the name of the host nation, Pakistan. This unexpected detail has added intrigue to the much-anticipated tournament. Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya, and Arshdeep Singh were seen donning the new kit, but it was the presence of "Pakistan" on their jerseys that captured attention. The sleek and modern design prominently displays the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 logo alongside the host nation’s name.
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Earlier, reports suggested that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was unwilling to have ‘Pakistan’ printed on the Indian team’s jerseys for the tournament. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) clarified that all participating teams must comply with the regulations, which mandate displaying the tournament’s official logo, including the host nation’s name. Failure to do so would result in stern action from the ICC.
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This development came as a surprise to many, given the political sensitivities between the two nations. Speculation was rife that India might avoid featuring Pakistan’s name on their jerseys. However, both the BCCI and the ICC have adhered to tournament guidelines, ensuring that all teams, including India, showcase the host nation’s name as part of the official jersey design.
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Meanwhile, the Champions Trophy gets underway on Wednesday, February 19, with Mohammad Rizwan-led Pakistan taking on Mitchell Santner's New Zealand at the National Stadium in Karachi. These two teams are placed in Group A along with India and Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Group B also consists of four teams - Australia, England, Afghanistan, and South Africa.