Former India opener Akash Chopra has selected his Indian team for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy and the preceding ODI series against England. Chopra has included both seniors Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the squad and feels their experience will come in handy for the team.
The Champions Trophy squad did not have many surprises apart from the selection of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Arshdeep Singh. While Jaiswal is yet to play an ODI, Arshdeep has played only 8 ODIs so far despite being a key member of India's T20I squad.
The Champions Trophy 2025 squad has a good mix of youth and experience. It also features Mohammed Shami, who is yet to return to international level after his surgery in early 2024. KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant have been selected as the two wickets.
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Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli included in Aakash Chopra's India squad for Champions Trophy
While speaking in a video on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra started from the top and claimed that Rohit Sharma will make it to the Champions Trophy side despite his recent poor run. He backed Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill to be the other two openers in the Champions Trophy squad.
“Rohit Sharma as opener and captain, without a shadow of a doubt. Since the start of the 2023 ODI World Cup, he has played 14 innings and scored 754 runs at an average of 54 with one century and five half-centuries and a strike rate of nearly 130,” explained Aakash Chopra.
“Shubman Gill's numbers were not that good. Since the start of the World Cup, he has played 12 innings, averages 37.4, has not scored a century, has five half-centuries and 411 runs in total. Not good That's why there is a case for Yashasvi Jaiswal Whether he will be there in the XI, he should be in the team.
The cricketer-turned-commentator also endorsed Virat Kohli as an unusual idea in the team behind a fantastic ODI World Cup 2023 and picked Shreyas Iyer as a middle-order batsman over Suryakumar Yadav.
“After that, Virat Kohli, there is no doubt. He averaged 74 runs in 14 innings and scored three centuries. Although he did not score in Sri Lanka, he still averages 74. Imagine what his World Cup would have been like,” noted Aakash Chopra.
“Suryakumar Yadav is not there but Shreyas Iyer is. Since the start of the World Cup, he has scored 620 runs in 15 innings with two centuries at a strike rate of 112 and an average of 52. Iyer is on fire,” added the former India batsman.
Aakash Chopra has not picked Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson despite their superlative performances in T20I cricket recently. Both are vital parts of India's T20I squad but have failed to make their mark in ODIs.
KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant as wicketkeepers for ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Aakash Chopra named KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant as the two wickets in the team. He feels that Rahul has an excellent record in ODIs as a middle-order batsman and can become the team's first-choice wicketkeeper. Chopra also feels Pant doesn't boast a great ODI record but will find a place here.
“KL Rahul played after that. Since the start of the 2023 World Cup, he has scored 560 runs at an average of 56 in 14 innings. He hit a century and three half-centuries. He will also be there in the team. He was playing as a goalkeeper then and could play as a goalkeeper now,” said Aakash Chopra..
“Rishabh Pant has not played the World Cup. What is his ODI record? He scored his runs at a strike rate of 106 and an average of 33.5 with a century and five half-centuries. The numbers are not great but will come into the team in place of Ishan Kishan,” he claimed.
Aakash Chopra picked Hardik Pandya as the only fast bowler in the Champions Trophy squad. Pandya hasn't played much cricket in recent times and has only featured in India's T20Is TEAMS. However, he recently started playing the Vijay Hazare Trophy to prepare for the 50-over games.
Powerful bowling attack but subject to fitness
On the bowling front, Aakash Chopra picked three spinners looking at the spin-friendly pitches in Dubai. Kuldeep Yadav was picked as the only specialist spinner while Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel were picked as spin bowlers.
The fast bowling arsenal looks strong with Jasprit Bumrah leading the pack. Mohammed Shami has also been picked as he is expected to be fully fit ahead of the tournament. Arshdeep Singh is the only surprise pick, but he gives the team a quality left-arm option.
“I say keep three spinners after Hardik Pandya – Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav. I will definitely keep three spinners, although it will be a slight problem in Dubai. It will be a bit cold and there will be a bit of humidity. So spin might not be used that much but still please take all three,” said Aakash Chopra.
“After that I left Shardul Thakur out. So we got Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh. Jasprit Bumrah should not be talked about. Mohammed Shami should go 100% if he is fit. he also plays against England,” he added.
If India manage to select this team for Champions Trophy 2025 based on fitness, they can be strong contenders for the title. However, the fitness of a few players is still a concern. While the batting looks more or less set, the bowling can be affected if any of the front-line bowlers miss out.
Jasprit Bumrah was injured in the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and it remains to be seen whether he will be fit in time for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Kuldeep Yadav is also returning from injury while Mohammed Shami is yet to play an international match after his operation.