Aakash Chopra Names Strong Squad for 2025 Champions Trophy, Backing Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli
Aakash Chopra Announces Squad for 2025 Champions Trophy
Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has recently revealed his picks for the Indian squad for the upcoming 2025 Champions Trophy, expressing strong support for Rohit Sharma as the captain and opener. Chopra’s selections, shared via his YouTube channel, highlight a blend of seasoned players and emerging talents, aimed at building a competitive squad for the prestigious tournament.
Rohit Sharma: The Undisputed Captain
Chopra has no doubts about Rohit Sharma’s place in the team. He stated, “Rohit Sharma as an opener and captain, without a shadow of a doubt.” Since the beginning of the 2023 ODI World Cup, Rohit has been in exceptional form, scoring 754 runs in 14 innings at an impressive average of 54. This includes a century and five half-centuries, showcasing his ability to anchor the innings.
Opening Pair Options
Alongside Rohit, Chopra highlighted Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal as potential opening partners. While acknowledging Gill’s recent dip in form, he advocated for Jaiswal’s inclusion in the squad. Chopra noted, “Shubman Gill’s numbers have not been that good… Therefore, there is a case for Yashasvi Jaiswal.”
Inclusion of Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya
Despite a recent lean patch, Virat Kohli secured a spot in Chopra’s squad due to his overall average and three centuries in ODIs. Chopra emphasized, “After that, Virat Kohli, there is no doubt about that. He has scored his runs at an average of 74 in 14 innings.”
Chopra also selected Hardik Pandya as the sole seam-bowling all-rounder, citing his recent performances in domestic tournaments. He stated, “Hardik Pandya has to be in the team, there is no doubt about that.”
Bowling Department
In the bowling department, Chopra opted for Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, and Arshdeep Singh, emphasizing the importance of having a robust pace attack.
As the excitement builds for the upcoming three-match ODI series against England starting February 6th, and the Champions Trophy kicking off on February 19th, fans eagerly anticipate how these selections will shape the future of Indian cricket.
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