R. Ashwin Picks Team India Playing 11 for Champions Trophy 2025: Ravichandran Ashwin has supported the Indian team management’s decision to appoint Shubman Gill as vice-captain for the Champions Trophy, saying it is a “visionary move”. He said that the place of the top order batsman is more or less fixed in the team and he can be groomed as the future captain. Off-spinner Ashwin, who retired during the recent Australia tour, suggested that there were not many options available for the position.
Ashwin said on his YouTube channel on Sunday, “Think about who from the current team can be selected for the role of vice-captain. I am not saying that the decision to make Shubman Gill the vice-captain is right. Whether it was right or wrong, the issue raised is correct, especially because he was the vice-captain in the previous series as well.” “I could be wrong, but I believe he also has some experience of vice-captaincy in Test cricket. This could be a prudent move, as the management may be considering that leadership role in the future. Who can play it?” Gill is the vice-captain of the ODI team, while Axar Patel has been given this role in T20.
“While both (Rishabh) Pant and (KL) Rahul can play together, he has handed over the vice-captaincy to a player whose place is already secured in the XI. If Shubman Gill is groomed for captaincy in the future, then He can rely on the guidance of senior players like Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah,” he said. The ICC event is scheduled to begin in Pakistan and UAE from February 19, and Ashwin raised concerns about the absence of a reliable No. 8 in India’s batting order besides the lack of left-handed players in the top seven.
Ashwin said, “This team is like the 2023 ODI World Cup.” “Both Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are right-handed openers. Then there is Virat Kohli. Shreyas Iyer will probably bat at number four due to his excellent performance in the World Cup. KL Rahul is after him.
“At No. 6, there is a choice between Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. Hardik is at No. 7. We lack left-handed batsmen in the top seven. Apart from the XI, we have Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant. ” Left-handed batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was one of the standout players in the Australia Test series, has also been included in the team.
Reflecting on possible combinations for Jaiswal’s ODI debut, Ashwin said: “Jaiswal can play only if someone gets injured. He might have a chance against England. But what if he scores consecutive centuries? He Said, “One option is to open with Jaiswal and Rohit, so that Shubman comes at number three and then Virat at number four. With this, either Rishabh Pant or KL Rahul will come at number five. If Jaiswal plays, Shreyas Iyer can be dropped.
Although this is unlikely to happen, India should take advantage of Jaiswal’s current form.” All-rounder Washington Sundar is another player who can make an impact if he finds a place in the playing eleven. Considering this equation Ashwin said: “Another scenario involves Washington Sundar. Gautam Gambhir gives a lot of importance to Washington because of his batting. They can also be used as floaters.”
He said, “If you follow the World Cup format, you can play Jaddu or Axar at No. 6, Hardik at 7 and Washington at 8. This would give opportunity to three fast bowlers or Kuldeep and two fast bowlers. Which balances well with Hardik’s all-round skills.”
India will play all its matches in Dubai and Ashwin feels that dew could be a factor there, which could affect the team combination. “Ideally, Washington should bat at No. 8. Is it wise to include a player like Nitish Reddy in the plan? If Kuldeep plays at No. 9, there will be two fast bowlers and three spinners. “With Nitish, he Can bat at number 8, so that Kuldeep can play at number 9 and two fast bowlers. This will give an opportunity to play four fast bowlers and two spinners. I don’t know whether his name was considered or not.
“If dew is a big factor, it may not be possible to have Washington Sundar bat at No. 8. In that case, Kuldeep Yadav will bat at No. 8, and the team will probably go with all the fast bowlers – Arshdeep, Bumrah and Shami “In the 2023 World Cup, we lacked batting depth beyond No. 8. “These are important questions that must be addressed.”
