Ravichandran Ashwin raises concerns over India’s squad selection for ICC Champions Trophy 2025, questioning the inclusion of five spinners in the team.
New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the final squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. In a notable change, Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury, and Harshit Rana has been included as his replacement. Additionally, Yashasvi Jaiswal has been added as a traveling reserve, while Varun Chakravarthy has been included in the final 15-member squad. With Chakravarthy’s inclusion, the Indian team now boasts five spinners, joining Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Washington Sundar, who were already part of the squad. However, this selection has raised concerns for former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin.
Ashwin Questions the Inclusion of Five Spinners
Ashwin, in a video on his YouTube channel “Ash’s Talk,” expressed his doubts about the decision to take five spinners to Dubai. He stated, “I don’t understand why we are taking so many spinners to Dubai. Five spinners, and we’ve left out Yashasvi Jaiswal? Yes, I understand that we take three or four spinners for a tour, but five spinners for Dubai? I’m not sure. I feel we have one or maybe two spinners too many in the squad.”
Confusion Over Squad Composition
Ashwin continued to question the rationale behind the selection, considering that the Indian team already has two left-arm spinners in Jadeja and Axar Patel, along with the best all-rounder in Hardik Pandya. He further added, “So, I believe Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja will both play, Hardik will play, and Kuldeep will also play. If you want Varun Chakravarthy in the team, you’ll have to leave out a fast bowler and use Hardik as your second fast bowler, or else you’ll need to drop one of the spinners to bring in a third fast bowler.”
After a stellar performance in the T20 series against England, Varun Chakravarthy has earned his opportunity to make his ODI debut. Ashwin hopes that Chakravarthy will form a strong spin partnership with Kuldeep Yadav in the Champions Trophy. He said, “I don’t think there’s any doubt that Kuldeep Yadav will be in the team. So, how will you make space for Varun? Is he bowling well? Of course, he is. I think you can bring Varun and Kuldeep together as a pair, which could be really effective.”
Concerns About Spin Conditions in Dubai
Despite his support for Chakravarthy, Ashwin raised concerns about the conditions in Dubai, specifically regarding the turning nature of the pitch. He said, “My question is, do you expect the ball to turn in Dubai? During the recent ILT20, we saw that the ball didn’t turn much in Dubai, and teams were easily chasing targets of around 180 runs. I’m a little uncomfortable with the team composition.”
Ashwin’s Perspective on Team Balance
Ashwin’s comments reflect his concerns regarding the balance of the squad, particularly with regard to the spinners. He believes that while the inclusion of spinners is important, there must be a careful assessment of the playing conditions and the balance between spinners and fast bowlers. The Indian team’s strategy in selecting five spinners for the Champions Trophy is likely to be a topic of much discussion, especially as they prepare to face challenging conditions in Dubai.
