The Champions Trophy squad didn't have many surprises other than the selection of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Arshdeep Singh. While Jaiswal has yet to play an ODI, Arshdeep has played just 8 ODIs so far despite being a key member of India's T20I team.
Also read: ICC Champions Trophy 2025: ICC delegation makes a shocking landing in Karachi to review preparations
"Rohit Sharma as an opener and captain, without a shadow of a doubt. From the start of the 2023 ODI World Cup, he has played 14 innings and scored 754 runs at an average of 54, with a century and five half-centuries and a strike rate of nearly 130," Aakash Chopra explained.
The cricketer-turned-commentator also backed Virat Kohli as a no-brainer in the squad on the back of a fantastic ODI World Cup 2023 and picked Shreyas Iyer as the middle-order batter above Suryakumar Yadav.
"Suryakumar Yadav isn't there but Shreyas Iyer is. Since the start of the World Cup, he has scored 620 runs in 15 innings, with two centuries, at a strike rate of 112 and an average of 52. Iyer is on fire," the former India batter added.
KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant as wicketkeeper for ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Aakash Chopra named KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant as the two wicketkeepers in the squad. He feels that Rahul has an excellent record in ODIs as a middle-order batter and can become the team's first-choice keeper. Chopra also feels that Pant doesn't boast an excellent ODI record but will find a place here.
"Rishabh Pant didn't play the World Cup. What's his ODI record? He has scored his runs at a strike rate of 106 and an average of 33.5 with one century and five half-centuries. The numbers aren't great but he will come in the team in place of Ishan Kishan," he claimed.
Strong bowling attack but subject to fitness
In terms of bowling, Aakash Chopra picked three spinners by looking at spin-friendly pitches in Dubai. Kuldeep Yadav was picked as the only specialist spinner while Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel were picked as spin bowling allrounders.
"I am saying keep three spinners after Hardik Pandya - Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav. I will definitely keep three spinners although there will be a slight problem in Dubai. It will be slightly cold and there will be a little moisture. So spin might not be used that much but I still request you to take all three," Aakash Chopra said.
If India manages to select this team for the Champions Trophy 2025 based on their fitness, they can be strong contenders for the title. However, the fitness of a few players is still a concern. While the batting looks more or less settled, the bowling can be impacted if any frontline bowler misses out.
Jasprit Bumrah got injured in the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and it remains to be seen whether he gets fit in time for ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Kuldeep Yadav is also returning from injury while Mohammed Shami is yet to play an international game after his surgery.
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