'5 Spinners Is Bit Too Much': Dinesh Karthik On India's Squad For Champions Trophy 2025
While analysing India's Champions Trophy 2025 squad, former wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik feels taking five spinners to Dubai is a bit too much.
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.
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.
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“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," Karthik said on Cricbuzz’s HeyCB with DK show.
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 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.
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