Joe Root included, but no Ben Stokes in England's Champions Trophy squad due to injury

England's Test captain, Ben Stokes, has been officially ruled out of the upcoming Champions Trophy one-day international tournament in Pakistan, as well as the preceding white-ball tour of India, as announced by the team management on Sunday.

The prominent all-rounder was excluded from both events due to a left hamstring injury sustained during England's loss to New Zealand in the third Test match held in Hamilton earlier this month.

In an effort to avoid exacerbating his injury, Stokes refrained from batting in the second innings of that match, which ultimately resulted in a significant 423-run defeat for England. Despite this setback, his team managed to secure a 2-1 victory in the three-match series.

With a five-match Test series against India scheduled to commence in June, followed by the crucial 2025/26 Ashes tour of Australia, the team management has opted not to risk the participation of their inspirational red-ball captain, Stokes, in the Champions Trophy.

Conversely, key batsman Joe Root, who succeeded his close friend Stokes as Test captain, will return to the ODI squad for the first time since the 2023 World Cup held in India.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, who was absent from the recent Test tours of both Pakistan and New Zealand due to a bone-stress injury in his right elbow, has been included in both squads.

The series against India and the Champions Trophy will represent England's inaugural limited-overs tour and tournament under the guidance of coach Brendon McCullum, who has previously only managed the Test team.

Jos Buttler will continue to serve as captain for both white-ball teams, despite England having lost their titles in both the 50-over and T20 formats since November 2023.

However, it is possible that the dynamic batsman may not fulfill wicketkeeping duties, a role he has predominantly held throughout his limited-overs career.

The ODI squad for the India tour and the Champions Trophy, along with the squad for five T20 matches in India in January, includes two additional wicketkeepers: Test gloveman Jamie Smith, who missed the New Zealand series due to the birth of his first child, and Phil Salt.

Additionally, 21-year-old emerging talent Jacob Bethell, who made a notable debut in the Test series with three fifties in New Zealand, has been selected for both squads.

Leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed has been included in the T20 squad, while Joe Root has been selected solely for the One Day Internationals (ODIs).

The touring party is scheduled to depart for India on January 17th, with the inaugural match of a five-match series against the T20 world champions, India, taking place in Kolkata on January 22nd.

Subsequently, India and England will engage in a three-match ODI series as part of their preparations for the Champions Trophy, which is set to commence in Nagpur on February 6th.

The match dates for the Champions Trophy, which will also feature teams from Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, have yet to be confirmed. The tournament is expected to take place from February 19th to March 9th.

The England ODI squad for the tour of India and the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan includes: Jos Buttler (captain/wicketkeeper), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt (wicketkeeper), and Mark Wood.

The England T20 squad for the tour of India comprises: Jos Buttler (captain/wicketkeeper), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt (wicketkeeper), and Mark Wood.