Aakash Chopra exposes Gautam Gambhir’s master plan for Champions Trophy 2025

Former Indian cricketer-turned-commentator, Aakash Chopra, has set the cricketing world abuzz with his bold revelations about Team India’s approach under Gautam Gambhir’s mentorship as they gear up for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 with the ongoing ODI series in Sri Lanka.

According to Chopra, Gambhir is tightening the reins, signaling a major shift in the Indian cricket team’s strategy ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. The cricket expert believes that Gambhir’s no-nonsense approach means there will be no more “pick-and-choose” in the ongoing three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka.

Aakash Chopra opens up about India's strategy for Champions Trophy 2025

He also highlighted how Gambhir is safeguarding his invaluable asset in Jasprit Bumrah by resting him for the ongoing Sri Lanka tour to keep him fresh for the crucial matches later this year before the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan.

The former Indian batter further opined that the inclusion of players like Shivam Dube and Riyan Parag, alongside Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel, for the Sri Lanka ODI is a signal of a strategic shift in the Indian cricket team.

However, the exclusion of Ravindra Jadeja and the potential debut of Harshit Rana have raised eyebrows, with the cricket expert predicting the KKR star’s India debut on the ongoing Sri Lanka tour.

The return of Rishabh Pant, who missed the 2023 ODI World Cup due to his car accident, adds another layer to this strategic puzzle, especially as KL Rahul’s solid performance in the tournament and in the 50-over formats still makes him a key player in India’s main line-up.

With Team India set to play the next ODI series against England in February, Gambhir would like to field core players in all games on Sri Lanka to have an idea about them to prepare the roadmap for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. India and England will play three ODIs from February 6.

Sri Lanka series could be a debut for Harshit Rana: Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube channel: “India is now preparing for the Champions Trophy. And it's been made very clear. In Gautam Gambhir's mentorship, you won't be able to do a lot of pick-and-choose series. Unless there is a legit reason. He rested Jasprit Bumrah, because he is that 24-karat gold. You have to keep it safe. And you don't have to lose it. It's important to keep it safe. So, apart from him, he will not give rest to anyone, especially batters.”

Chopra further added, “In this series, Shivam Dube is returning after a long time. Riyan Parag is now a part of the ODI team. Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel are here, but Ravindra Jadeja missed out. This series could be a debut for Harshit Rana. Rishabh Pant is back because when the 2023 ODI World Cup happened, he wasn't there. KL Rahul played alone, and he played very well. Let's be honest. People forget. But he played well. I mean, he got abused a lot in the final, but he still scored 66 against Australia. In short, he is also available now.”

Notably, India will next host Bangladesh in a two-match Test series from September 19 after the conclusion of the ongoing three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka.