'These Are Allrounders...': India Picking 'Five Spinners' For Champions Trophy Could Be Helpful In Dubai
The India squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy features as many as five spin bowling options, a decision that hasn't been universally approved.
Has India made a mistake by packing their Champions Trophy squad with five spinners? There’s growing concern that the Rohit Sharma-led side may have picked more spinners than needed and could’ve have taken an extra batter of pacer to Dubai where they are scheduled to play all their matches of the ICC tournament starting February 20.
India have Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Varun Chakararavarthy in their 15-man squad.
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A former national selector told news agency PTI that unlike Sharjah, the pitch in Dubai has a but more carry and pacers have been successful on which is why Pakistan have also picked more pacers in their squad compared to spinners.
“The Dubai surface has a bit more carry than, say, in Sharjah, and the pacers here have found some good success. That’s why Pakistan has picked more pacers in their squad, though they are supposed to play only a couple of matches here," the former selector told PTI.
However, former chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar has given a positive twist to the selection call by pointing out how three of the five spinners are actually allrounders who can deliver with the ball as well as the bat.
“More than five spinners, these are allrounders who can bat and bowl. Their all-round abilities ensure a longer tail and you can bat deep," Vengsarkar was quoted as saying by The Times of India. “That will help in Dubai where the conditions are very similar to India. Allrounders are very important, and we have quality options.
“I only need to see how Varun does in ODIs. He is comfortable with the T20 format at home, but in ODIs, you have to bowl 10 overs," he added.
India’s pace attack will be led by the experienced Mohammed Shami who will be supported by allrounder Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana.
The Rohit Sharma-led side has been placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh.
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