Ravichandran Ashwin Questions India’s Squad for 2025 CT – Here's Why

BCCI Announces Final Squad for ICC Champions Trophy: Ashwin Questions Selection of Five Spinners

New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced India’s final squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. A major development in the squad selection is the exclusion of Jasprit Bumrah, who has been ruled out due to injury. In his place, young pacer Harshit Rana has been included. Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal has been named as a traveling reserve, and Varun Chakravarthy has been added to the final 15-member squad.

With Chakravarthy’s inclusion, India now has five spinners in the squad, alongside Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Washington Sundar. However, this selection has raised questions, particularly from former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin, who expressed his concerns over the balance of the squad.

Ashwin Questions Five-Spinner Strategy

Speaking on his YouTube channel “Ash’s Talk”, Ashwin voiced his skepticism about including five spinners for a tournament in Dubai.

"I don’t understand why we are taking so many spinners to Dubai. Five spinners, and we’ve left out Yashasvi Jaiswal? Yes, I get that having three or four spinners is normal, but five? I feel we might have one or two too many," Ashwin remarked.

Squad Composition Raises Questions

Ashwin also pointed out that India already has two left-arm spinners in Jadeja and Axar Patel, as well as the all-round capabilities of Hardik Pandya. He questioned how the team management plans to balance the bowling attack.

"If Axar and Jadeja both play, Hardik is in, and Kuldeep is a certainty, then where does Varun fit in? If you want Varun Chakravarthy in the playing XI, you'll have to drop a fast bowler and rely on Hardik as your second pacer, or you’ll have to leave out a spinner to include a third fast bowler."

Varun Chakravarthy earned his place in the squad following a strong performance in the T20 series against England, and Ashwin believes he can form an effective spin duo with Kuldeep Yadav.

"Kuldeep is undoubtedly in the playing XI, so how do you make space for Varun? He’s bowling well, no doubt. I think a Kuldeep-Varun pairing could be really effective."

Concerns Over Spin-Friendly Conditions in Dubai

Despite backing Chakravarthy’s inclusion, Ashwin questioned whether Dubai’s pitches would offer enough assistance for spinners.

"Do we expect the ball to turn in Dubai? In the recent ILT20, we saw that pitches in Dubai didn’t offer much spin, and teams were comfortably chasing targets of around 180. This makes me a little uncomfortable with the team’s composition."

Team Balance Under Scrutiny

Ashwin’s comments highlight the ongoing debate about the balance between spinners and fast bowlers in India's squad. While spin will play a crucial role, the playing conditions in Dubai may require a more diverse bowling attack.

With the ICC Champions Trophy just around the corner, team management will have to carefully strategize their playing XI to ensure the right mix of spinners, pacers, and all-rounders. Whether India’s five-spinner strategy proves to be a masterstroke or a miscalculation will be a key talking point as the tournament unfolds.