Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has questioned the selection of three spin-bowling all-rounders in India’s Champions Trophy squad. The Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel has picked Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar in the squad.
Furthermore, Kuldeep Yadav has been picked as the fourth spinner in the team. Chopra noted that the selectors are picking bowlers who can also bat.
“The one overriding thought or theme was who all can bat because you need a batter at No. 8. So you picked Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar. You could have picked a fast bowler instead of that, and if you needed a spinner only, then you could have picked Varun Chakaravarthy. I see two of the three spin-bowling all-rounders, who all bat left-handed, playing,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
The renowned commentator highlighted that this is a defensive selection from the selectors.
“It will be slightly cold in Dubai. A little dew might also come later in Dubai. There could be slightly more help for fast bowlers in Dubai. The Dubai pitch doesn’t and won’t help spinners much. It is rock-hard. It seems like the pitch has been made on a mountain,” he said (6:00).
Chopra noted the UAE will be more conducive for the seamers than the spinners.
“Even if you continuously play for 10 days there, cracks aren’t formed at all. It can stay low but the ball doesn’t turn there and the square remains like that. So more fast bowlers are required and fewer spinners but India have picked four spinners,” Chopra observed.
India has picked three fast bowlers in Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Arshdeep Singh. Mohammed Siraj was surprisingly ignored for the Champions Trophy squad.
The Men in Blue will begin their Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20.
