Gambhir Slams India’s Captain-Coach Duo: Questions Rohit’s Choices, No Jaiswal in Squad

Published on: February 12, 2025

Gambhir Slams India’s Captain-Coach Duo: Questions Rohit’s Choices, No Jaiswal in Squad

Fans Reject India’s Revised Champions Trophy Squad: Selection Controversy Sparks Outrage

India’s squad for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy has sparked heated debates among fans and experts, particularly after the last-minute changes made by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee. The revised squad, which sees Harshit Rana replacing the injured Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy taking the place of Yashasvi Jaiswal, has been met with widespread criticism.

While Bumrah’s absence itself is a major blow to India’s title hopes, the replacements chosen by the selection committee have raised eyebrows. The decision to include an inexperienced Harshit Rana over the more established Mohammed Siraj and the surprising omission of Jaiswal for an extra spinner in Chakaravarthy has led to accusations of poor planning and favoritism. Fans took to social media to voice their frustration, questioning the logic behind a squad with five spinners and only three frontline pacers.

Jasprit Bumrah’s Absence: A Major Setback for India

Jasprit Bumrah, widely regarded as one of the best fast bowlers across all formats, was officially ruled out of the Champions Trophy late Tuesday night. The decision was made by the selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, after considering Bumrah’s recent injury struggles.

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The pacer had been out of action since sustaining a back injury during India’s final Test against Australia in Sydney. Given his history with back injuries, the selectors opted to take a cautious approach, unwilling to risk him for an entire tournament without sufficient match practice. While this decision is understandable from a fitness standpoint, it undoubtedly weakens India’s bowling attack significantly.

India has not won the Champions Trophy since their triumph in 2013 under MS Dhoni. With Bumrah now ruled out, the team’s hopes of reclaiming the title have suffered a serious setback even before the tournament has begun.

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Harshit Rana Over Mohammed Siraj: A Questionable Call?

One of the biggest talking points in India’s revised squad was the selection of Harshit Rana as Bumrah’s replacement. The 22-year-old pacer from Delhi has impressed in domestic cricket and IPL, but his lack of experience at the international level makes this decision highly debatable.

The most controversial aspect of this selection is that Rana was picked ahead of Mohammed Siraj, a bowler who has proven his worth on the biggest stage. Siraj played all matches in the 2023 ODI World Cup, delivering crucial performances for India. Despite his proven ability in high-pressure situations, he was only named as a traveling reserve while Rana, who is yet to play an international match for India, made it to the main squad.

The selection committee’s decision appears to align with captain Rohit Sharma’s preferences. During last month’s squad announcement press conference, Rohit had subtly hinted that Rana was being considered as a front-runner for a spot in the squad. This further fueled speculation that personal biases might have played a role in team selection rather than purely cricketing logic.

Yashasvi Jaiswal Dropped for Varun Chakaravarthy: Another Strange Move

If the decision to include Rana over Siraj wasn’t controversial enough, the omission of Yashasvi Jaiswal added more fuel to the fire. Jaiswal, one of India’s most promising young openers, was unexpectedly dropped in favor of Varun Chakaravarthy, a mystery spinner.

The move appears even more baffling considering that India already had four frontline spin-bowling options in their squad—Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar. With the inclusion of Chakaravarthy, India now has five spinners in their 15-member squad while having only three frontline pacers—Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana.

Fans were quick to point out the illogical balance of the squad. The Champions Trophy is being held in the UAE, with all of India’s matches set to take place in Dubai.
While UAE pitches do offer assistance to spinners, having five spin-bowling options still seems excessive, especially when pace-bowling depth is so crucial in high-stakes tournaments.

Fan Outrage: Social Media Backlash Over Squad Selection

As soon as India’s revised squad was announced, social media platforms were flooded with criticism from fans and analysts. Many questioned why India opted for an extra spinner instead of retaining a strong batting option like Jaiswal.

One particularly frustrated fan took to Twitter and wrote:

*“What a messy selection.

1. 5 spinners in a 15-member squad
2. Harshit Rana replacing Jasprit Bumrah instead of Siraj
3. Jaiswal not selected
It could have been a simple swap—Sundar OUT, Jaiswal IN. But we have a brain-faded Captain & Coach combo.”*

This sentiment was echoed by several others, with fans and cricket pundits alike questioning the rationale behind the selection decisions. Some pointed fingers at Rohit Sharma and new head coach Gautam Gambhir, blaming them for failing to construct a well-balanced squad.

Varun Chakaravarthy’s Inclusion: A Tactical Move or Recency Bias?

While Varun Chakaravarthy’s selection may seem surprising, some argue that it is justified based on current form. Chakaravarthy has been India’s most effective white-ball spinner in recent months, particularly in T20 cricket. His ability to bowl mystery spin and control the middle overs could be valuable on slow UAE pitches.

However, the key concern is whether India will even be able to accommodate both Kuldeep Yadav and Chakaravarthy in the playing XI. Kuldeep had an outstanding 2023 across all formats, making him a likely starter in most matches. If Chakaravarthy is to play, it might come at the expense of an all-rounder, disrupting the team’s balance.

The selectors appear to have taken a gamble, banking on spin-heavy conditions in Dubai. But with only three pacers and no genuine backup for Shami and Arshdeep, India could find themselves struggling if the pitches don’t turn as much as expected.

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India’s Champions Trophy Schedule: Tough Road Ahead

India will play their last ODI before the Champions Trophy against England in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. This match will be crucial for finalizing team combinations ahead of the tournament.

India’s Champions Trophy campaign officially begins on February 20 against Bangladesh in Dubai. The much-anticipated India vs. Pakistan clash is scheduled for February 23, followed by their last group-stage match against New Zealand on March 2.

Given the controversies surrounding squad selection, India will be under immense scrutiny as they step onto the field. Rohit Sharma and his team must prove that their selections were justified by delivering strong performances in the tournament.

Conclusion: A Risky Squad with Unanswered Questions

India’s revised Champions Trophy squad has left fans divided and analysts puzzled. The omission of Jaiswal, the inclusion of five spinners, and the selection of Harshit Rana over Siraj have all been widely criticized. While the selectors seem to have placed their faith in spin-friendly conditions, the imbalance in the squad could backfire.

With India looking to win the Champions Trophy for the first time since 2013, all eyes will be on Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir to see if their choices pay off. Will this squad prove its critics wrong, or will these selection blunders come back to haunt India? Only time will tell.