NEW DELHI: Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has raised concerns about the Indian squad for the ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled to start from February 19 in Pakistan and the UAE. He pointed out the lack of left-handed batters in the top seven and the absence of a reliable No. 8 batter.
Ashwin shared his analysis on his YouTube channel, suggesting that the squad mirrors the team composition for the 2023 ODI World Cup. He mentioned the likely batting order, with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill opening, followed by Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and a choice between Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel at No. 6, with Hardik Pandya at No. 7.
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“This squad mirrors the 2023 ODI World Cup,” Ashwin remarked. “Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill open, both right-handed. Then there’s Virat Kohli. Shreyas Iyer likely bats at 4, given his strong performance in the World Cup. KL Rahul follows. At No. 6, it’s a choice between Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. Hardik occupies No. 7. We lack left-handed batters in the top seven. Outside the XI, we have Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant.”
Ashwin questioned the role of Yashasvi Jaiswal in the squad, wondering if he would get a chance to play unless there were injuries. He suggested that if Jaiswal were to play, it could lead to changes in the batting order, with Shreyas Iyer potentially being dropped.
“Jaiswal might only play if someone gets injured. He could have a chance against England. But what if he scores consecutive centuries? One option is to open with Jaiswal and Rohit, pushing Shubman to 3, followed by Virat at 4. This would place either Rishabh Pant or KL Rahul at 5. If Jaiswal plays, Shreyas Iyer would likely be dropped. While unlikely, India must capitalise on Jaiswal’s current form,” he said.
Ashwin also highlighted Washington Sundar as a potential addition to the playing XI, citing coach Gautam Gambhir‘s belief in Sundar’s batting abilities. He discussed various scenarios involving Sundar and the team’s balance.
“Another scenario involves Washington Sundar. Gautam Gambhir highly values Washington due to his batting. He can also be used as a floater. If you follow the World Cup format, you play either Jaddu or Axar at No. 6, Hardik at 7, and Washington at 8. This allows for three fast bowlers or Kuldeep and two pacers, maintaining balance with Hardik’s all-round skills,” he added.
Ashwin emphasised the impact of dew in Dubai, where India will play all their matches. He questioned whether playing three spinners would be a viable option and suggested that Nitish Kumar Reddy could have been a valuable addition to the squad.
“Ideally, Washington should bat at 8. Does it make sense to have a player like Nitish Reddy in the scheme of things? If Kuldeep plays at 9, it’s two pacers and three spinners. With Nitish, he could bat at 8, allowing Kuldeep at 9 and two fast bowlers. This would provide the luxury of four fast bowlers and two spinners. I don’t know if he was considered.”
Ashwin concluded by stating that India will likely stick to the World Cup template, acknowledging the challenges of excluding key players like KL Rahul. He noted the lack of batting depth from No. 8 onwards in the 2023 World Cup and emphasised the need to address these crucial questions.
“Washington Sundar at 8 might not be feasible if dew is a major factor. In that case, Kuldeep Yadav would bat at 8, and the team would likely go with all seamers – Arshdeep, Bumrah, and Shami. In the 2023 World Cup, we lacked batting depth from No. 8 onwards. These are the crucial questions that need to be addressed,” Ashwin stated.
