Subramaniam Badrinath shares surprise on Ravindra Jadeja’s inclusion in Champions Trophy squad

Former Indian batter Subramaniam Badrinath has shared his surprise on Ravindra Jadeja’s inclusion in the Champions Trophy squad. Badrinath feels the all-rounder might find it difficult to get a place in the final XI. 

Initially, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel picked four spinners on the squad: Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Kuldeep Yadav. In-form Varun Chakravarthy was also added to India’s squad for the England ODIs on Tuesday.

“There are a few spots which are a little bit tricky. I am honestly surprised Ravindra Jadeja is in the squad. I didn’t expect him to be in the squad because there is very little space for him in the XI,” Badrinath said on Star Sports show Game Plan.

Badrinath questioned Jadeja’s selection in the squad when there is less chance of him breaking into the final XI.

“So why would you actually take a player in the squad who might not feature in the actual playing XI? So that is a little bit tricky,” Badrinath observed.

Badrinath said Rohit will back Kuldeep Yadav as the lead spinner in the final XI in the Champions Trophy.

“Rohit likes him. Rohit has been backing Kuldeep Yadav since he took over the captaincy. He does whatever the other spinners don’t do. Kuldeep Yadav is a wrist spinner. He is slower through the air,” he said on the same show.

“He is brave. He is the best option to go to in the middle overs. We have seen many of these foreign teams. They find it hard to read a bowler like Kuldeep Yadav,” Badrinath observed.

India will begin their Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 20.