Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has suggested two Indian players who can be dropped from the team’s 2025 Champions Trophy squad if they want to go with four seam-bowling options as well. He named Washington Sundar as one of the players who can be dropped as the spin-bowling all-rounder is unlikely to be required for Team India’s first two matches against Bangladesh and Pakistan as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’, he said, “There are two options available. One is to leave out Washington Sundar because you haven’t played him here (first two ODIs against England) as well. I don’t think Washi is in your scheme of things. He will not be part of your thinking for the whole of February. Pakistan don’t have that many left-handers. You won’t think that hard about Bangladesh – lefties are okay. You might think about him against New Zealand because they have Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra and Tom Latham, and Mitchell Santner later, but that’s on the 2nd of March.”

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In the same video, Aakash Chopra also added that India seem to have a settled batting order ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy.

“Our batting order is looking set now. Rohit Sharma has scored runs. Shubman Gill is our vice-captain and is in incredible form. After that, Virat Kohli is at No. 3. He will come in form and, God forbid, if he doesn’t, we won’t drop him. Shreyas Iyer is at No. 4 and whether you keep KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant or anyone else at No. 5, you have an extra batter as either Rahul or Pant would be sitting out,” he said.

“You might not need Yashasvi. You want to do left-right but won’t be able to do it now. You have played your hand and that hand has backfired. So why are you taking him if you are not going to play him? I see brighter chances of Mohammed Siraj playing than him. I don’t see Yashasvi playing in any of the matches,” Aakash Chopra concluded.