While the BCCI announced the full member squads for the upcoming home ODI series against England and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 last Saturday (January 18), former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has questioned the spinners' choice. 

After the end of the five-match home T20I series against England, India will play a three-match home ODI series against England before beginning their journey in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on February 20. While both the ODI squads are the same (except for Harshit Rana’s possible inclusion only for the England series if Jasprit Bumrah remains unfit), India have four spinners with the names of Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, and Kuldeep Yadav.

See Also: Inside the Lengthy Meeting: Debates on Vice-Captain and Wicketkeeper Selections

You could have picked a fast bowler: Aakash Chopra

Out of four spinners, three are known as all-rounders, while Kuldeep Yadav is the only complete spinner. Former Indian cricketer and present commentator, Aakash Chopra, feels that India could add one more fast bowler or regular spinner like Varun Chakaravarthy, instead of three spin-bowling all-rounders. 

Chopra commented on his YouTube account, "The one overriding thought or theme was who all can bat because you need a batter at No. 8. So you picked Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar. You could have picked a fast bowler instead of that, and if you needed a spinner only, then you could have picked Varun Chakaravarthy. I see two of the three spin-bowling all-rounders, who all bat left-handed, playing." 

All three are defensive options in ODI cricket

Chopra feels that three spin-bowling all-rounders are the defensive options in ODI cricket. He has experienced a lack of confidence in Indian batting in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia.

Chopra added, "All three are defensive options in ODI cricket. We consistently saw a slight lack of confidence in batting in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. We needed a batter at No. 8. So we are picking bowlers who can bat, and I feel it's the same theme this time as well, which is not a great thing because you have to show confidence in your batting. You have to pick bowlers who take wickets."

Aakash Chopra also pointed out Dubai pitches

While Pakistan is hosting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, India will play all their matches in Dubai. Chopra also claimed that the Dubai pitches weren’t helpful for the spinners while little dew could also play a key factor, and more fast bowlers would be useful for India in those scenarios. 

The former Indian opener added that although the balls could stay low, the used pitches couldn’t bring much cracks.