Champions Trophy 2025: Ex Cricketer Feels Ravindra Jadeja May Not Make India Squad if Mystery Spinner is Picked

Former cricketer Aakash Chopra believes star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja may miss out on a spot in the Indian Champions Trophy 2025 squad if mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy is picked for the upcoming ICC tournament.

Team India will be spoilt for choices in the spin department with the likes of of Kuldeep Yadav, Jadeja, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, and Chakravarthy battling for three or four spots in the 15-member squad for the ICC event, scheduled to be played in hybrid model with all of India's matches being played in Dubai.

It has been reported that Chakravarthy, who has returned to the T20 fold since last October, is among the top candidates to be picked for the Champions Trophy, while there's a big doubt over Jadeja's place in the team.

Jadeja, who featured in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series earlier this month, has retired from T20 internationals following the T20 World Cup last year, but the star all-rounder is still available for the 50-over format.

The squad picked for the England ODI series will give more clear picture on who gets on the plane to UAE next month. However, former Indian batter turned commentator Chopra feels Chakravarthy has done well to present his case and his selection could see Jadeja lose his spot.

"Varun Chakaravarthy is picking up wickets one after the other. He has done well in the Vijay Hazare Trophy also. He took a five-wicket haul against Rajasthan and has been continuously doing well. Since he has returned to the Indian T20I team, he has been picking up wickets every single time," Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel.

"The rumour market is hot, the Indian cricket atmosphere has become like that as we get a lot of source-based news and a few of them come true, that Varun Chakaravarthy could be picked for the Champions Trophy. If he gets picked, who will go out - Ravindra Jadeja. That's what I have been hearing," Chopra added.

Axar has been named the new vice captain of the T20I side for the series against England, and the left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder is likely to be a sure shot pick in the ODIs as well alongside Chakravarthy.

Chopra further added that if reports turn out to be true then Chakravarthy could lead the spin bowling attack, while Axar could just pip Jadeja for the second spinner's spot in the team.

"I hope I hadn't heard that but it has come now that Ravindra Jadeja might not be picked and you might see Varun Chakaravarthy in his place in the XI. There is a strong possibility. So you will see Axar in place of Jaddu," he observed.

Jadeja could still find a place in the squad. Kuldeep Yadav's fitness put a cloud over his selection, leaving Bishnoi as the only other contender for the veteran all-rounder. Both Bishnoi and Jadeja could both be included if India opt to pick four spinners in their squad like in the T20 World Cup.