Champions Trophy: Former great questions selection of 5 spinners in Team India squad

In a strange move, as many as five spinners have been included in the Indian team for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

The selectors had earlier selected two left-armers Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, along with one offie Washington Sundar, and one leg-spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the provisional squad. While India were already being criticised for taking one fast bowler less, after Bumrah was ruled out of the tournament after he failed to recover from the back injury, the Ajit Agarkar-led committee added another spin bowler Varun Chakravarthy.

In response, former India great Ravichandran Ashwin admitted not being comfortable with the changes BCCI’s selection committee made to the Champions Trophy squad after Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out. Along with many other experts, Ashwin also questioned the logic behind India carrying one too many spinners for their campaign in Dubai, which will begin next week.

According to Ashwin, he is baffled at the selection changes made to the squad as he reckoned India are carrying at least two spinners extra.

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“What I don’t understand is the number of spinners we are taking to Dubai. Five spinners and we have made Yashasvi Jaiswal sit out. Yeah I understand that we take 3 or 4 spinners for a tour. But five spinners in Dubai? I don’t know,” said Ashwin on his official YouTube channel.

“I think we are one spinner too many if not 2. The 2 left-arm spinners are your best all-rounders alongside Hardik Pandya. So both Axar and Jadeja are going to play. Hardik will also play and Kuldeep will play. If you want Varun Chakravarthy in the team, then you will have to make a pacer sit out and use Hardik as your second pacer. Else you will have to drop a spinner to bring in a 3rd seamer,” he added.