Have selectors erred in picking spin-dominant squad for Champions Trophy 2025?

by · Inside Sport India

With the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel in the squad, India let go the option of picking an extra pacer for Champions Trophy.

After much delay, the Indian squad for the Champions Trophy was announced on Jan 18, and one must admit, it looks like a balanced squad, on paper. But then former India opener Aakash Chopra doesn’t seem to be too impressed with the selections made, and called it a “defensive move”.

Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja & Axar Patel In

He particularly spoke about the decision to include three spin-bowling all-rounders — Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel, and none of them can be called an out-an-out wicket-taking bowler. He drew parallels with the IND vs AUS series too, where just to increase the batting depth, India preferred bowling all-rounders.

“The overriding theme seems to be prioritising batting depth by picking players who can bat at No. 8,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel. “You’ve included Jadeja, Axar, and Sundar, but could have opted for a specialist fast bowler instead. If you needed a spinner, Varun Chakravarthy would’ve been a better choice. Two out of these three spin-bowling all-rounders will likely play, and all three are defensive options in ODI cricket,” he added.

Spinners Will Struggle in Dubai

“We consistently saw a slight lack of confidence in batting in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. We needed a batter at No. 8. So we are picking bowlers who can bat, and I feel it’s the same theme this time as well, which is not a great thing because you have to show confidence in your batting. You have to pick bowlers who take wickets,” Chopra added.

Chopra also raised doubts, if this would be the best combination in Dubai conditions, where spinners might not have much to do anyway. “The conditions in Dubai might not favor spinners. It will be slightly cold, with the possibility of dew, and the hard, rock-like pitches won’t offer much turn. It seems like the pitch has been made on a mountain,” Chopra said.

“Even if you continuously play for 10 days there, cracks aren’t formed at all. It can stay low but the ball doesn’t turn there and the square remains like that. So more fast bowlers are required and fewer spinners but India have picked four spinners,” he added.