Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has advocated for Kuldeep Yadav to be India’s leading spinner in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Following the announcement of India’s 15-member squad, which includes five spinners with Varun Chakravarthy replacing Yashasvi Jaiswal, Chopra expressed concerns about team selection and the potential sidelining of Kuldeep.
Chopra highlighted that while Sharjah’s pitches are traditionally spin-friendly, Dubai’s surfaces, where India’s matches are scheduled, have not historically favored spinners. He emphasized the importance of retaining Kuldeep in the playing XI, suggesting that if necessary, both Kuldeep and Varun should play together, but Kuldeep should remain the primary spinner.
Kuldeep Yadav has been instrumental in India’s recent successes, taking 15 wickets in 11 matches during the 2023 ODI World Cup and 10 wickets in five matches in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Chopra also questioned the decision to drop Yashasvi Jaiswal after a single ODI appearance, suggesting that such selection choices could impact team performance.
