Akash Chopraformer Indian cricketer and popular commentator, has made headlines with his bold predictions about the upcoming Indian team. Champions Trophy. Set to begin on February 19, 2025, the popular tournament is making a comeback after a hiatus of eight years.
Chopra's decision has sparked debate, especially apart from popular actors like Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson.
Apart from Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson
In a recent YouTube video, Chopra explained her reasons for leaving Suryakumar Yadav, popularly known as SKY. He also said that Suryakumar has not participated in One Day Internationals (ODIs) recently and has struggled to make an impact in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25failure to perform very well.
“I feel that Suryakumar Yadav will not be part of the team. He is not playing ODIs and he has not scored any runs against Vijay Hazare,” Chopra said. Similarly, he said that Sanju Samson has not played more than 50 matches, reducing the chances of selection.
A strong charge of Shreyas Iyer and Hardik Pandya
However, Chopra is optimistic about the inclusion of Shreyas Iyerwho believe that they have a special form. “Suryakumar Yadav is not there, but Shreyas Iyer is. Since the World Cup, he has scored 620 runs in 15 innings, with two centuries, at a rate of 112 and an average of 52. Iyer is on fire,” Chopra was emphatic, citing Iyer's performance as a key factor in his selection.
Another important name in the group that Chopra predicted is that of the circle Hardik Pandya. Acknowledging Pandya's recent achievements in domestic cricket, Chopra said Baroda's presence is essential for the team's quality and depth.
“Hardik Pandya should be in the team, there is no doubt about that. He is playing for Vijay Hazare and also played in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He has played a lot of cricket because the question was that he does not play,” he said.
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The story of Champions Trophy 2025
The Champions Trophy holds a lot of significance for India, especially after they failed to reach the finals of the ICC World Test Championship 2025. The Indian team management is under pressure to review their tactics and performance after some disappointing results, including their recent tour. in Australia where he faced tough competition. The tournament will pit India against some of the best cricketing nations, and the selectors are expected to finalize their squad soon. The deadline to confirm provisional teams is set for January 12, allowing teams to make changes until February 13.
Aakash Chopra's Prediction of Team India in Champions Trophy 2025
Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh.