Champions Trophy: Aakash Chopra has suggested Team India to chase
What's the story
Ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy, former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has raised concerns over Team India's bowling lineup.
He advised the team to focus more on their batting strength, as they will be without Jasprit Bumrah for this tournament.
"We are saying that we have a lot of variation in bowling and have five spinners as well. However, if we are being honest, we have an issue with bowling," Chopra stated on his YouTube channel.
Here's more.
Strategy suggestion
Chopra advises India to chase in all matches
Chopra further advised Team India to go for chasing in all their matches, owing to the dew factor which could work in their favor.
"The pressure to win matches should be on the batters. Our strength is our batting. We are playing batting till No. 8. So definitely India should bat second," he suggested.
He also noted that teams bowling second have often struggled with the dew factor at Dubai's venue, where India's games are scheduled to be played.
Potential impact
Chopra's insights could influence India's tournament strategy
Chopra's insights could well shape Team India's strategy in the tournament.
He stressed, " If you win the toss, decide to bowl, and you ideally do that as well because dew also comes later at times. If there is any danger of dew, that is always in the second innings," he stated while urging India to chase in every match.
Meanwhile, the team will start their campaign against Bangladesh on February 20, in Dubai.
Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah ruled out of ICC Champions Trophy
In a blow to the Indian cricket team, Bumrah was ruled out of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
It was earlier reported that a call on Bumrah, who is out with a back injury, will be taken on February 11, the deadline for submitting final squads.
Pacer Harshit Rana has replaced Bumrah, who also missed the England ODI series.
It is understood that he had a "stress reaction" in his back, which required up to five weeks of rest.
Concerns
Chopra expresses concerns about India's pace attack
With Bumrah being ruled out, and Mohammed Shami's form being inconsistent, India's pace attack has raised concerns.
Meanwhile, Chopra had suggested that an additional pacer may be included in the squad owing to these uncertainties.
"Four fast bowlers should have 100% been there (in the Champions Trophy squad) because whatever we have seen of Mohammed Shami, he did take three wickets in the last match for sure and bowled decently, but he is far from ready," Chopra said.
Squad
India's final squad for the Champions Trophy
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.