News
Aakash Chopra questions selection of only 3 pacers in Team India’s 2025 Champions Trophy squad
By SMCS - Jan 20, 2025 9:40 am
Views 9

Former India player Aakash Chopra has questioned the selectors for picking only three specialist pacers in Team India’s squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy as well. He also added that even among the pace bowlers picked, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami have fitness concerns and Arshdeep Singh is relatively inexperienced in ODIs as well.

Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah seems to be in some discomfort

In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “Only three fast bowlers are there, and that is big news for me. If you are picking three fast bowlers, it means your thought process is to play only two out of the three. If you wanted to play three, you would have picked four. It’s as simple as that. It means you have decided that you might play three spinners. You have almost played your hand before anything has started.”

ALSO READ: Hardik Pandya shares happiness after winning back the love of fans

“You have picked three fast bowlers, and in that, no one knows anything about Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness. The chairman (Ajit Agarkar) was asked and he also said he doesn’t know as of now. He will hopefully get fit. Mohammed Shami is probably fit but we don’t know how his form and international fitness will be. Arshdeep is now being played in ODIs,” Chopra added.

Mohammed Siraj
Mohammed Siraj bowled a brilliant opening spell

In the same video, Aakash Chopra also stated that Mohammed Siraj should have been picked instead of a spinner in India’s 2025 Champions Trophy squad as well.

“There is no place for Mohammed Siraj. He had not done that wrong that he has been totally sidelined. I feel for DSP. Siraj, I am feeling for you. Siraj’s name should have been in this team. One spinner less could have been picked and the rest is looking okay. When you pick only three pacers, among whom you have to play two, and it includes two pacers whose fitness you are not sure of, it is not a great story. The squad for the England series was also announced and Harshit Rana is the 16th member in that. It means even Harshit Rana is ahead of Siraj in the ODI queue, which is again a little surprising,” Aakash Chopra concluded.