As the debate about India’s Champions Trophy 2025 roster continues, former India cricketer-turned-pundit Aakash Chopra has brought up the peculiar subject of leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. Chopra claimed that Chahal’s career was “finished” by the BCCI and team management for no apparent reason, noting that the leg-spinner’s statistics were remarkable even after he was dropped from ODIs over two years ago. Chahal was recently in the press for a reported breakup with his wife Dhanashree Verma.
He did not participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024/25. Yuzvendra Chahal has 121 wickets in 72 ODIs for India, although he has not played in any format since August 2023. The wrist-spinner missed the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024/25, and Chopra stated that his absence for two years meant he was never considered for the Champions Trophy 2025 squad. India chose four spin-bowling alternatives for the Champions Trophy.
Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar, but Chahal was never really considered. Yadav and Jadeja appear to have established themselves as India’s top spinners in ODIs. Having appeared together in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Furthermore, Axar’s impressive all-round performances in the successful T20 World Cup in 2024. This has pushed him up the list of India’s spinners, and his adaptability and fielding ability have made him a preferred pick.
Team Management Targeting Stars
Washington Sundar, India’s surprise pick, will serve as the team’s fourth spinner and another all-rounder. Most people believe he was chosen over pacer Mohammed Siraj, rather than as an alternative spin option. Although the Punjab Kings made him the most expensive spinner in IPL auction history. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra mentioned how Yuzvendra Chahal had been left out of India’s ODI selection for a long time, despite not performing poorly.
The former India opener said, “Yuzvendra Chahal has been finished. His file has been closed. I have got no idea why they did that. It is an interesting case. He last played in January 2023. So it’s been two years for him. His numbers are also very good. He has picked up a lot of wickets and was consistently doing well.”
