"Not Biased But Gautam Gambhir...": R Ashwin Makes Heads Turn With His Champions Trophy XI Analysis

India's squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has triggered a few debates, with several former cricketers and pundits debating if the selection of players provides the team with the right balance. Ravichandran Ashwin, who recently retired from international cricket, feels the BCCI selection committee chief Ajit Agarkar could've added seam-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy to the roster, giving India the option of extending the batting line-up without compromising on bowlers.

The selection committee, however, only went ahead with Hardik Pandya as the pace-bowling all-rounder while three spin-bowling all-rounders - Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel - were added to the squad.

"Does it make sense to have a player like Nitish Reddy in the scheme of things? If Kuldeep plays at 9, it's two pacers and three spinners. With Nitish, he could bat at 8, allowing Kuldeep at 9 and two fast bowlers. This would provide the luxury of four fast bowlers and two spinners. I don't know if he was considered," Ashwin on his YouTube channel.

"Kuldeep is a lock at No. 9, as the primary spinner. Among the finger spinners, I think one fast bowler could have been accommodated. I'm sure there were discussions."

Ashwin also doesn't feel the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant would get into India's playing XI.

“Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill open, both right-handed. Then there's Virat Kohli. Shreyas Iyer likely bats at 4, given his strong performance in the World Cup. KL Rahul follows. At No. 6, it's a choice between Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. Hardik occupies No. 7. We lack left-handed batters in the top seven. Outside the XI, we have Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant,” he explained.

Ashwin also feels Sundar