Legendary India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has picked his team for the Champions Trophy 2025. His team included four players from the victorious Indian team and had no Pakistani player in it.
The four Indian players who made it to Ravichandran Ashwin’s Playing XI are Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakravarthy. All these players made an impact during the tournament and helped India lift the trophy.
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Ravichandran Ashwin picks the batting order for CT 2025
Ravichandran Ashwin picked Rachin Ravindra and Ben Duckett as the team’s openers. Ravindra emerged as the tournament’s leading run-getter with 263 runs in five matches at an average of 65.75. He was also adjudged as the Player of the Tournament.
On the other hand, Ben Duckett was one of the few shining lights for England. He scored 227 runs in three matches at an average of 75.66 and a strike rate of 108.61, emerging as the third-highest run-scorer of the tournament.
Ravichandran Ashwin picked India’s Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer as the No. 3 and No. 4 batters in the line-up. Kohli scored 218 runs at an average of 54.50 while Iyer emerged as India’s highest run-getter with 243 runs at an average of 48.60.
Australia’s Josh Inglis is the designated wicketkeeper in the side. Inglis was excellent with the gloves and also played a magnificent knock of 120* against England to help Australia chase down a 350+ score.
David Miller is slotted at No. 6 by Ravichandran Ashwin in his team. The left-hander scored an unbeaten 100 off 67 balls in the semi-final against New Zealand that went in vain but was highly impressive during his knock.
Bowling unit dominated by spin
Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai and New Zealand’s Michael Bracewell will play the roles of an allrounder in the lower order. Both of them impressed with the bat and ball and provided balance to the team.
Ashwin picked two Indian bowlers Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy as the team’s lead spinners. Both Kuldeep and Chakravarthy were brilliant on the helpful Dubai pitch.
Chakravarthy was particularly impressive and emerged as the second-highest wicket-taker by picking up 9 wickets despite playing just three matches in the tournament. On the other hand, Kuldeep picked up 7 wickets in five matches.
Matt Henry has been picked as the lone specialist pacer in this line-up. Henry picked up 10 wickets in four matches at an average of 16.70 and finished as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker.
India’s spin-dominated strategy
The tournament was played in three cities of Pakistan – Lahore, Rawalpindi, Karachi – and Dubai according to the hybrid model. While the pitches in Pakistan were batting-friendly, the pitch in Dubai had enough assistance for the spinners which India used well.
The Men in Blue played with four spinners in the form of Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja. It worked in their favour as the opposition found it tough to deal with them.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s Best Playing XI for ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Rachin Ravindra, Ben Duckett, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Josh Inglis, David Miller, Azmatullah Omarzai, Michael Bracewell, Matt Henry, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Mitchell Santner (12th man)
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