On Monday, the Indian cricket team proudly unveiled its new jersey for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Cricket stars Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya, and Arshdeep Singh posed in the fresh blue kit. However, the design took a backseat as attention turned toward the inclusion of the host country Pakistan’s name on the jersey.
The unveiling ended weeks of speculation about whether Pakistan’s name would be omitted due to ongoing political tensions between the two nations. Early reports had suggested that the Indian jersey might exclude the host country’s name, stirring a heated debate. ICC regulations, however, mandate that all participating teams display the tournament’s official logo, including the name of the host nation.\
Also Read: India Faces Setback as Coach Morkel Leaves Ahead of Champions Trophy
Photos shared by the ICC showed Indian players wearing jerseys with the official Champions Trophy logo, featuring “Pakistan” inscribed. This marked the first time in years that an Indian kit displayed Pakistan’s name, a detail that sparked discussions given the strained relations between the two countries. A similar issue occurred during the Asia Cup 2023, when the host’s name was excluded from the tournament logo.
India will play all its matches in Dubai while Pakistan, the host nation, will host games at home. The highly anticipated India-Pakistan match is set for February 23. However, India’s preparations suffered a setback as bowling coach Morne Morkel left the team due to personal reasons, potentially affecting the team’s performance.
