Gautam Gambhir Drops Ravindra Jadeja for Champions Trophy 2025 Opener Against Bangladesh – Washington Sundar Set to Play
By smrati khare a day ago
In a bold move ahead of India’s Champions Trophy 2025 opener against Bangladesh, head coach Gautam Gambhir has reportedly decided to drop Ravindra Jadeja from the playing XI. Instead, Washington Sundar is expected to take his place, considering Bangladesh’s left-hander-heavy top order.
According to Star Sports visuals, Gambhir had an intense discussion with Jadeja during the final practice session, indicating that the veteran all-rounder would not feature in the first match. Meanwhile, captain Rohit Sharma was seen speaking with Axar Patel, suggesting that the team management has favored Axar over Jadeja due to his recent performances.
Why is Jadeja Dropped?
India’s selection strategy appears to be influenced by Bangladesh’s top-order composition, which features three left-handers – Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, and Najmul Hossain Shanto. The team management believes that an off-spinner like Washington Sundar will be more effective against Bangladesh’s batting lineup.
Former New Zealand coach Mike Hesson, analyzing the Gambhir-Jadeja conversation, stated:
“It was clear from Gambhir’s body language that Jadeja was being informed he won’t be playing. The decision has been made, and while Jadeja may not agree, Gambhir is looking at match-ups for this specific game.”
Washington Sundar Gets the Nod
Gambhir, known for his tactical and aggressive approach, is backing Washington Sundar to take on Bangladesh’s left-handers. Sundar’s ability to bowl in the powerplay, provide control in the middle overs, and contribute with the bat makes him a valuable asset in these conditions.
Piyush Chawla, former Indian leg-spinner, also weighed in: “There are a lot of left-handers in Bangladesh’s top order. Ideally, India should have played both Axar and Jadeja, but it looks like they want Sundar to exploit the match-up advantage.”
Axar Patel Over Jadeja – A Shift in India’s Spin Strategy?
The decision to prioritize Axar Patel over Jadeja is not entirely surprising. Over the past year, Axar has evolved into India’s first-choice left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder in ODIs. He was initially set to be part of India’s ODI World Cup squad, but an injury paved the way for Ravichandran Ashwin’s selection at the last moment.
With Axar showing significant improvement in all three departments, the management seems to be transitioning towards him as a long-term option.
Gambhir’s Growing Influence on Team Selection
Since taking over as India’s head coach, Gambhir has not shied away from making tough calls. Reports suggest he played a key role in picking players like Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy, and his preference for Washington Sundar over Jadeja is another clear indication of his forward-thinking approach.
As India prepares to face Bangladesh, this strategic shift could define their campaign in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Will Sundar justify his selection, or will India miss Jadeja’s experience? Stay tuned for all the latest updates from the tournament.
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