Mohammad Rizwan Slammed for Comparing Jadeja & Axar to Pakistan Part-Timers Salman Agha & Khushdil Shah

Pakistan’s disastrous run in Champions Trophy 2025 has left fans and cricket experts frustrated, but Mohammad Rizwan’s latest statement has sparked even more controversy. After Pakistan’s six-wicket defeat against India, Rizwan compared India’s spin-bowling all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, to Pakistan’s part-time spinners, Salman Ali Agha and Khushdil Shah.

His comment did not sit well with cricket analysts, and former India cricketer Aakash Chopra took a brutal dig, calling it a “delulu is the only sululu” moment.

What Did Rizwan Say?

During the post-match press conference, Rizwan was questioned about Pakistan’s lack of specialist spinners, with only Abrar Ahmed as the lone frontline spinner in their squad.

Defending the selection, Rizwan responded:

“No, you can’t say that we made a mistake by picking just one spinner. If you look at that Indian team, they also have Kuldeep as the front-line spinner. Jadeja is like an all-rounder, Axar Patel is like an all-rounder. We also have Salman Ali Agha – he bowled very well in other countries as well and Khushdil Shah, they bowled very well like in the past.”

This comparison raised eyebrows across the cricketing world, as Jadeja and Axar Patel have proven their credentials at the highest level, unlike Salman Ali Agha and Khushdil Shah, who are primarily part-time options.

Aakash Chopra’s Savage Response

Reacting to Rizwan’s comparison, Aakash Chopra mocked the Pakistan captain on X (formerly Twitter), saying:

“Pakistan skipper Rizwan believes that Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah are of the same quality (as bowlers) as Jadeja and Axar. You can’t make these things up. Delulu Is The Only Sululu.”

He further added:

“Please stay like this, Pakistan. Even though matches are one-sided…Pakistan’s meme game and cricket content is top-class after the loss.”

Chopra’s comments went viral, with fans joining in to poke fun at Rizwan’s unrealistic assessment of Pakistan’s spin options.

Why Rizwan’s Comparison is Flawed

Jadeja & Axar’s Proven Track Record

Ravindra Jadeja: Over 270 international wickets and a crucial match-winner across formats.

Axar Patel: Over 200 international wickets, known for his tight economy and wicket-taking ability.

Salman Ali Agha & Khushdil Shah’s Limited Impact

Salman Ali Agha: Primarily a middle-order batter with part-time off-spin.

Khushdil Shah: A batting all-rounder with minimal bowling impact in international cricket.

Pakistan’s lack of a strong spin attack was evident against India, as they failed to pick crucial wickets in the middle overs, allowing Virat Kohli to score his 51st ODI century and seal an easy win for India.

Pakistan on the Brink of Elimination

With two consecutive losses in the group stage, Pakistan is all but out of Champions Trophy 2025. Their only hope of staying in the tournament relies on Bangladesh losing to New Zealand, but even that might not be enough given their poor net run rate.

If Pakistan crashes out, Rizwan’s leadership and team selection choices will come under even greater scrutiny, especially his controversial defense of the spin attack.

Final Thoughts: A Costly Blunder for Pakistan?

Rizwan’s attempt to justify Pakistan’s squad selection has only added to the criticism. Comparing world-class spinners like Jadeja and Axar to part-timers reflects Pakistan’s lack of planning for major tournaments.

Do you think Rizwan’s comparison is justified, or was Aakash Chopra right to mock him?

Should Pakistan make major changes to their squad after another ICC tournament failure?

Drop your thoughts in the comments below!

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