Rohit Sharma Explains Decision to Include Four Spinners in India’s Champions Trophy 2025 Squad
India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, has defended the decision to include four spinners in the squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025. The provisional squad, announced on January 18, features Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, and Kuldeep Yadav.
Despite concerns over Yadav’s fitness after his hernia surgery in November, he was still included in the squad. During a press conference, alongside chief selector Ajit Agarkar, Rohit addressed questions regarding the spin-heavy selection.
Rohit emphasized the value of the spinners, highlighting their contributions not only with the ball but also with the bat. “The spinners give us depth when we have spinning all-rounders. While we don’t have many seaming all-rounders, these players bring quality in both batting and bowling,” said Sharma.
He also praised the versatility of players like Sundar, Jadeja, and Axar. “Sundar, Jadeja, and Axar are proper all-rounders, not just spin-bowling all-rounders,” he added, reflecting on their ability to perform under various conditions and roles.
Rohit expressed confidence in the spinners’ abilities, noting that their performances in key situations have earned the team’s trust. “These players are not selected just to fill a spot as batters or bowlers. They’ve performed in key situations, and the team is confident in their abilities,” he concluded.
India’s squad for the Champions Trophy 2025 includes Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah*, Mohammad Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashaswi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja. Note that Bumrah’s inclusion is subject to fitness.