Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra believes Ravindra Jadeja could be dropped from India’s Champions Trophy squad. Chopra noted that Jadeja had a mundane run in the T20 World Cup and he hasn’t been in the best of forms in the white-ball format.
Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel has picked four spinners in the Champions Trophy squad – Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Washington Sundar.
Meanwhile, Jadeja was not picked for Sri Lanka ODIs and the selectors had said he had been rested.
“I don’t know about hate but the white-ball stocks have gone down massively. The T20 World Cup was extremely middling. It wasn’t fantastic. He announced his retirement. Even in ODIs, he wasn’t picked for the Sri Lanka series and it was said that he had only been rested and that he is a very important member,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
Chopra highlighted that Jadeja might not be picked for the first ODI against England and he could be dropped from India’s final Champions Trophy squad.
“However, when the Champions Trophy team was announced, his name was in the 15th spot. I won’t be surprised if he doesn’t play the Nagpur match and his name might be dropped when the Champions Trophy team is announced. All these things were within the realms of possibility,” he observed.
Meanwhile, the reputed commentator reckons Varun Chakravarthy will be added to India’s Champions Trophy squad. The mystery spinner has been added to India’s squad for England ODIs after he picked 14 wickets in five T20Is recently.
“I feel he will reach there. The Champions Trophy’s route goes through Nagpur, Cuttack and Ahmedabad (the three ODIs against England). If he performs slightly decently in this ODI series, he will be there,” he said.
“I am thinking in whose place? If you include Varun Chakaravarthy, you would have already compromised one spinner. There is a possibility that you keep only three spinners and add a fast bowler, which may actually be the right thing to do. Better balance, but will the Indian team do that? They will have to pivot a lot,” Chopra responded.
The first ODI between India and England will be played at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur on Thursday.
