ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Aakash Chopra declares India's spin attack inferior to Afghanistan's

Former India player Aakash Chopra hailed Afghanistan's spin attack in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as the strongest. He pointed out how the team can make any opposition surrender in the tournament if there is help in the wicket.

Afghanistan will be making their first-ever appearance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The Hashmatullah Shahidi-led side are placed in Group B alongside Australia, England, and South Africa in the eight-nation tournament, which will be played from 19th February to 9th March.

Spinners have played a huge role in Afghanistan's success

Afghanistan, in the last few years, have made a massive rise in international cricket. They beat some big teams in the ICC World Cup 2023 and then reached the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2024 before losing to South Africa in the knockout clash.

The major reason behind the success of Afghanistan has been their spinners. The likes of Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Allah Ghazanfar, and Mohammad Nabi have played a massive role for the team and no doubt will be holding the key in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as well.

They will make the opposition surrender even if there is slight help for a spin from the pitch - Aakash Chopra on Afghanistan

Aakash Chopra talked about Afghanistan's strengths for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, saying that their spinners are even better than India. He pointed out that the likes of Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Allah Ghazanfar, and Mohammad Nabi can give their side 40 overs and make life tough for the opposition. Speaking in a video posted on his YouTube channel, he said:

"What are Afghanistan's strengths? Firstly, the best spin attack of the tournament. It's not that we (India) are not taking spin. We have also kept four spinners, which includes three fingers and Kuldeep Yadav, in our provisional squad. However, I am saying ours is not the best. Theirs is the best.

"They have Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Allah Ghazanfar and Mohammad Nabi. Now tell me whose is better. We pick bowlers who also bat well, barring Kuldeep Yadav. They have one better than the other. They can bowl 40 overs of spin. They will make the opposition surrender even if there is slight help for a spin from the pitch."

They have a lot of all-rounders - Aakash Chopra is in awe of Afghanistan's squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Aakash Chopra also was in awe of the number of all-rounders Afghanistan have in the squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He mentioned that even though people call them bits and pieces players, they are proper all-rounders, who contribute equally with bat and ball. He added:

"After that, they have a lot of all-rounders. Some people say they are bits and pieces, but the truth is that Azmatullah Omarzai is a proper batter, Gulbadin Naib does proper batting and bowls, Mohammad Nabi is a proper batter and bowler, Rahmanullah Gurbaz is a wicketkeeper-batter, and Rashid Khan bats decently."

Afghanistan will open their campaign in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 against South Africa on Friday (21st February).

Also read: ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Lockie Ferguson likely to miss the entire tournament in a big blow for NZ