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Aakash Chopra Reveals India’s Secret Weapon: Former Indian cricketer and analyst Aakash Chopra has suggested a bold change to India’s playing XI for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand. The much-anticipated clash is set to take place in Dubai on Sunday, March 9.
Chopra believes India should drop left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav for a tactical reason and bring in off-spinner Washington Sundar. He thinks Sundar could be India’s surprise weapon in this high-stakes final.
Why Chopra Wants Washington Sundar Over Kuldeep Yadav
Chopra pointed out that New Zealand’s batting lineup has several left-handed players, making Sundar’s off-spin a valuable asset. The cricket expert believes Sundar’s ability to bowl economically and trouble left-handers could be a game-changer for India.
On his YouTube channel, Chopra explained his reasoning:
“I think Washington Sundar should replace Kuldeep Yadav for this match. It’s not about Kuldeep’s form, but a tactical move based on match-ups. Strategically, Sundar could be a great pick against New Zealand.”
He also reminded fans that Sundar has performed well against the Black Caps before, mentioning his previous success at venues like Pune and Wankhede.
“Sundar’s resurgence in international cricket started against this very team. So, there is a strong case for his selection,”
Chopra added.
Chopra’s Take on India’s Team Balance
While Chopra acknowledged that India’s current playing XI has been successful throughout the tournament, he argued that adding a right-arm off-spinner could give the team better balance.
“There’s no rule that says you must stick to the same team. People say, ‘Why fix something if it isn’t broken?’ But when you look at our bowling lineup, we already have Varun Chakravarthy as a wrist-spinner and two left-arm finger spinners in Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja. We don’t have a right-arm off-spinner, and that’s why Sundar could be a smart choice,”
Chopra concluded.
Kuldeep Yadav’s Performance in Champions Trophy 2025
Kuldeep Yadav has had a decent but not outstanding tournament. In four matches, he has taken five wickets at an average of 36.60 and an economy rate of 5.01. While the Dubai conditions have favored spinners, Kuldeep has struggled to make a big impact.
In the group stage match against New Zealand, he picked up two wickets but failed to take any in the semifinal against Australia.
India vs New Zealand in ICC Knockouts
Historically, New Zealand has had the upper hand against India in ICC knockout matches. The two teams have met in four such games, with the Black Caps winning three of them. Most notably, they knocked India out of the 2019 World Cup semifinal in England.
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