Former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has questioned India’s squad selection for the upcoming Champions Trophy. Ashwin believes the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel has picked one spinner too many if not two in the squad.
Indian selectors have picked as many as five spinners in the team – Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, and Varun Chakravarthy.
In the provisional squad, India had selected four spinners but added Varun Chakravarthy in place of Yashasvi Jaiswal in the final squad. India will play all of their Champions Trophy matches in Dubai and it would be interesting to note India’s playing XI.
Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube Channel, “What I don’t understand is the number of spinners we are taking to Dubai. 5 spinners and we have made Yashasvi Jaiswal sit out. Yeah, I understand that we take 3 or 4 spinners for a tour. But five spinners in Dubai? I don’t know. I think we are one spinner too many if not two.”
Ashwin said Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja are going to play in the final XI as they are pure all-rounders.
“The two left-arm spinners are your best all-rounders alongside Hardik Pandya. So both Axar and Jadeja are going to play. Hardik will also play and Kuldeep will play. If you want Varun Chakravarthy in the team, then you will have to make a pacer sit out and use Hardik as your second pacer. Else, you will have to drop a spinner to bring in a 3rd seamer.”
Further speaking on the team’s combination, Ashwin said Kuldeep should be in India’s playing and thus questioned Varun Chakaravarthy’s selection.
“I don’t think there is any doubt that Kuldeep Yadav will walk into the team. So how will you make space for Varun. Is he bowling well? of course. Either you bring in Varun and Kuldeep as a duo, which I feel would be good. But my question is, in Dubai, are you expecting the ball to turn? I feel a bit uncomfortable with the team,” said Ashwin.
India will kick off their Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on February 20.
