Aakash Chopra Indian pacers’ shrinking
pool: The Indian squad for the Champions Trophy 2025 has only three specialist fast bowlers, with Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh lacking much experience.
Aakash Chopra has reacted to this and he feels that now the pool of fast bowlers in India has become smaller. He gave the example of Khalil Ahmed that at one time it seemed that he was in the race but now perhaps he is not in the selectors’ thoughts.
India has selected a specialist pace trio of Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana for the Champions Trophy. Jasprit Bumrah is not a part of the tournament due to injury, while Mohammed Siraj has been dropped by the selectors. Siraj was not selected in the provisional squad, while he was not given a place in the final squad as well, instead his name is in the non-traveling reserve.
What did Aakash Chopra say about the lack of fast bowlers in Indian cricket?
In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’, the former cricketer-turned-commentator was questioned about the dwindling number of Indian fast bowlers. To this, Chopra said: “It’s the right question as to why the new fast bowlers are not sticking. Many fast bowlers get a lot of attention and attraction when they play in the IPL and then disappear completely. Then no one talks about them. I was also thinking about Khaleel Ahmed. It seemed like he was there, that he was definitely in the team, but then suddenly he is completely sidelined. Avesh Khan plays and then disappears.”
Aakash Chopra continued his point and said: “Umran Malik was very promising and then disappeared. Mayank Yadav is out due to injury. Mohsin Khan is an IPL-time bowler. I am also thinking about Akash Deep. He comes sometimes and then disappears. Mukesh Kumar got a chance to debut in all three formats in a short time but now he is nowhere.”
