Dinesh Karthik suggested that having five spinners in the squad suggests that the team management is unsure about the ideal combination. Veteran wicketkeeper batter Dinesh Karthik feels that India went a bit overboard by picking five spinners in the squad for the Champions Trophy.
For the ICC tournament, which is making a comeback after eight years, Indian selectors have picked five spinners and three fast bowlers in the 15-member squad. Many former greats and experts of the game have questioned India’s squad composition, and while analysing India’s squad ahead of the start of the tournament, former wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has also said that taking five spinners is a bit too much.
Indian selectors Ajit Agarkar and skipper Rohit Sharma picks up as many as 5 spinners for ICC Champions Trophy Dubai edition
The Indian men’s cricket team will start as favourites to win the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which is starting on Wednesday, February 19, with a match between defending champions Pakistan and New Zealand at National Stadium in Karachi.
The Rohit Sharma-led side, which is part of Group A in the Champions Trophy, will open its campaign on Thursday (February 20) against Bangladesh at Dubai International Cricket Stadium and then take on Pakistan in a high-voltage match at the same venue on Sunday, February 23. India’s third and final group stage match is scheduled to take place in Dubai on March 2 against New Zealand.
India made a couple of last-minute changes to the CT squad, with Yashasvi Jaiswal dropping out late to make way for Varun Chakravarthy, while the injury forced Jasprit Bumrah to make way for Harshit Rana. With Varun’s inclusion, head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma have created a problem of plenty for themselves with five spin-bowling options.
Senior all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is almost certain to be in the XI after his impressive show with the ball against England. Kuldeep Yadav could be the X-factor with the ball for India in the Dubai conditions while Axar Patel has turned out to be a handy batter who has been excelling in the floater’s role. Dinesh Karthik suggested that having five spinners in the squad suggests that the team management is unsure about the ideal combination.
Dinesh Karthik’s blunt take on Rohit Sharma, Ajit Agarkar picking 5 spinners in CT squad
Dinesh Karthik suggested that having five spinners in the squad suggests that the team management is unsure about the ideal combination.
“First thing, let’s address the two openers. I believe if, in case one of them gets injured, Yashasvi (Jaiswal) can always come in if there needs to be a replacement or if it’s just for a match, then KL Rahul can always open. It’s not a problem. So that they’re not going to be too worried about. Now 5 spinners, I personally feel, is a bit too much.
They could have done with 4, I felt. And that’s where I do think it shows a little bit of, not confusion, which is probably a strong word, but not being very sure of what exactly to do because they announced a squad and then they added another spinner for an opener,” Dinesh Karthik said on Cricbuzz’s HeyCB with DK show.
Meanwhile, the selection committee went ahead with Harshit Rana as Jasprit Bumrah’s replacement as Mohammed Siraj was picked as a non-travelling substitute. The decision to pick Rana over Siraj did put the selection committee under the scanners, as the latter has been a consistent performer for India in the 50-over format for the past few years.
However, Karthik asserted that Siraj could have been the ideal replacement but the Indian camp currently has more trust on Rana’s ability and he also reciprocated well with impressive show in England ODIs.
The member of India’s 2013 Champions Trophy winning squad also shared his views on Harshit Rana’s selection over Mohammed Siraj as Jasprit Bumrah’s replacement. According to Dinesh Karthik, Harshit bowled very well against English and Indian team management backs him more than Siraj at the moment.
“Look, if you had to go with experience, then yes, Siraj could have been the ideal choice, but I thought Harshit bowled very well against England. What I feel is the Indian camp is very impressed with Harshit Rana. I think Harshit Rana was the debate, but I feel Team India backs him right now more than Siraj,” Karthik said.
India’s squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakravarthy.
Non-travelling substitutes: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj and Shivam Dube. The three players will travel to Dubai as and when required.
Team India’s prediction for Champions Trophy 2025
Team India is all set for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, hoping to win back-to-back titles. The team’s T20 World Cup win last year should boost their confidence. But they also have the heartbreak of losing to Australia in the World Cup 2023 final. The Rohit Sharma-led side will play on familiar turf at Dubai International Stadium, which could give them an advantage over others.