“Does it make sense….”, Ravichandran Ashwin Suggests Changes to India’s Champions Trophy 2025 Squad

Team India’s former spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has questioned the Indian Champions Trophy squad. The veteran off-spinner believes that the Indian Team lacks balance heading into the Champions Trophy 2025.

Ashwin Questions Team Balance

Ashwin expressed concerns about India’s reliance on finger-spinning all-rounders. The squad includes Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar, leaving no room for a seam-bowling option like Nitish Kumar Reddy.

“Does it make sense to have someone like Nitish Reddy in the mix?” Ashwin questioned on his YouTube channel. He explained that Reddy’s inclusion could have provided better flexibility. “With Nitish at No. 8, Kuldeep at 9, and two fast bowlers, we’d have a strong combination of four pacers and two spinners,” he added.

A major concern over Team India’s squad for Champions Trophy is Mohammed Siraj‘s exclusion. Siraj has been India’s best pacer in ODIs since 2023. He has taken 45 wickets at an economy rate of 5.41. However, he was dropped from the squad citing efficiency concerns.

“We are not sure if Jasprit Bumrah will play or not. Hence, we wanted someone who can bowl with the new ball and the old one. That is why, we have picked Arshdeep Singh, because of his abilities in the backend. Siraj’s effectiveness comes down if he doesn’t use the new ball. It’s unfortunate if he misses out.”, Team India captain Rohit Sharma had said while announcing the team.

Washington Sundar’s Role Under Scrutiny

Ashwin also weighed in on the role of Washington Sundar. He believes that Sundar is Gambhir’s favourite. However, he also added that adding Sundar would also mean prioritising batting depth.

“I’m not biased, but Gambhir highly values Washington for his batting. He could be used as a floater. If you follow the World Cup format, you play either Jaddu or Axar at No. 6, Hardik at 7, and Washington at 8. This allows for three fast bowlers or Kuldeep and two pacers, maintaining balance with Hardik’s all-round skills,” he said.

The Spin Conundrum

Kuldeep Yadav appears to be India’s first-choice spinner for the tournament. Ashwin hinted that only one among Jadeja, Axar, and Sundar is likely to feature in the playing XI.

“If Kuldeep plays at 9, only one finger spinner might fit in,” Ashwin concluded.

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