Aakash Chopra Excludes Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson from Champions Trophy 2025 Squad

 

Former Indian cricketer and prominent commentator Aakash Chopra recently shared his predicted 15-member squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, and it raised a few eyebrows. Among the notable omissions were Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson. Chopra provided detailed reasoning for leaving out these two talented players, citing their lack of recent performances in the One-Day format and domestic cricket. Platforms like online cricket ID have been buzzing with discussions about this surprising exclusion.

Why Suryakumar Yadav Misses Out

Suryakumar Yadav, often hailed as a T20 sensation, has been struggling to cement his place in the ODI format. Chopra pointed out that SKY’s lack of form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and his minimal involvement in ODIs make his selection difficult.

"Suryakumar Yadav isn't there, but Shreyas Iyer is. Since the start of the World Cup, Iyer has been in sublime form, scoring 620 runs in 15 innings, including two centuries, at an average of 52 and a strike rate of 112," Chopra explained on his YouTube channel.

Sanju Samson Also Misses Out

Sanju Samson, despite his potential, hasn’t played much cricket recently, which has worked against his case for selection.

"One didn’t play, and the other didn’t score runs. So, their names are not going to come up," Chopra remarked, referring to Samson and SKY.

Shreyas Iyer: The Star Performer

Chopra was all praise for Shreyas Iyer, whose consistent performances in both international and domestic cricket have solidified his spot. "Iyer is on fire," he added, emphasizing the batter's contributions in recent matches.

Hardik Pandya’s Inevitable Inclusion

Aakash Chopra also mentioned that an in-form and fit Hardik Pandya is indispensable for the Indian team. Pandya has been actively participating in tournaments like the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, proving his commitment and fitness.

"Hardik Pandya has to be in the team, there is no doubt about that. He has played a lot of cricket recently, silencing questions about his match readiness," Chopra stated.

Chopra’s India Squad for Champions Trophy 2025

Here’s the 15-member squad picked by Aakash Chopra:

• Batters: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer
• Wicketkeepers: KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant
• All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel
• Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh

Conclusion

Chopra’s squad reflects a balance of experienced players and rising stars. The exclusion of big names like Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson highlights the importance of consistent performance and adaptability to the ODI format. As the tournament approaches, discussions and predictions on platforms like cricket betting ID will continue to grow, with fans eagerly debating the final squad’s potential to bring the trophy home.