Big Breaking: Ben Stokes Ruled Out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Joe Roots Replaces Him.

In a shocking announcement, the England cricket board announced that Ben Stokes will not be part of the England team for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The board also announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming Indian series and Champions Trophy. 

As the Fans who are excited about the Champions Trophy tournament arrival after 8 years, the England Board gave them a blow with the news that Ben Stokes will not be part of the team's squad for the Champions Trophy; the main reason behind his absence is the injury he got during the last test match against New Zealand. The injury is reportedly in his left hamstring, which he got on day 4 of the third test match.

Due to this reason, The team management has decided not to risk Stokes for the upcoming limited overs series against India and the Champions Trophy in February and March, considering the upcoming five-match Test series against India and the Ashes tour of Australia in 2025/26.

Breaking squad news! 🚨

Our squads to tour India and for the Champions Trophy! 📝

Click below for the details 👇

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) December 22, 2024

Recent Test Series, ENG vs NZ

In the recently finished test series against New Zealand, England won the series by 2-1. England won the first two matches dominantly, with performances from batter Harry Brooks and pacer Gus Atkinson. In the last test match, New Zealand made a strong comeback, defeating the England Team by over 400 runs, England's biggest loss in this decade. 

Joe Roots as the Replacement

To replace Ben Stokes, the team has called up former captain Joe Root, who is part of Fab4 cricket with Virat Kohli, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson and is said to return in the one-day international. Root played his last one-day international in the ICC World Cup 2023 in India.

He will be directly playing from one ICC tournament to another without any bilateral experience in between.

England Squad for the upcoming series against India and Champions Trophy. 

England: Jos Buttler (C), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood.

England T20I Squad for India Tour: Jos Buttler (C), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood