Ravichandran Ashwin sensationally asks Rohit Sharma to lose the toss in Champions Trophy final
Published - 09 Mar 2025, 12:47 PM | Updated - 09 Mar 2025, 11:39 PM
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Rohit Sharma’s shocking run of bad luck at the toss has become a talking point ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand on March 9 in Dubai. Rohit Sharma has now lost 11 consecutive tosses in ODIs, but Ravichandran Ashwin sees a silver lining in this bizarre streak.
The former Indian off-spinner has made a bold claim that the India National Cricket Team captain should not mind if he loses another toss. Ravichandran Ashwin believes that India should embrace the bad luck and let New Zealand take the call in the high-pressure title clash.
Ravichandran Ashwin wants Rohit Sharma’s toss curse to continue in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Final
Ashwin also provided an explanation behind his bold statement, explaining that the Men in Blue have shown their dominance in both chasing and defending throughout the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025, and their unbeaten campaign makes the toss almost irrelevant for them.
Despite New Zealand’s history of upsetting the Indian cricket team in ICC knockout matches, the former all-rounder is confident that the team is better prepared this time, and their balanced squad makes them favorites for the thrilling final showdown in Dubai.
Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube channel ‘Ash Ki Baat’: “In my opinion, India shouldn’t aim to win the toss. I’d say let them lose it, allowing New Zealand to choose what they want to do. It could put India in a tricky spot. All in all, India would be comfortable either way since they’ve successfully defended and chased before.
Ravichandran Ashwin backs India to beat New Zealand to lift the trophy
Sharing his prediction for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Final, Ashwin said, “Personally, I’d say it’s about 54-46 in favor of India. While New Zealand’s bowlers have caused India trouble in the past, they’re still a very strong team.”
Meanwhile, the former Indian spinner said that Kane Williamson vs Ravindra Jadeja will be the most fascinating battle that could influence the outcome of the Champions Trophy 2025 final.
Ashwin explained that Williamson has always found Ravindra Jadeja challenging, often moving towards the leg stump to counter his speed and accuracy.
Kane Williamson vs Ravindra Jadeja battle will be fascinating in the CT 2025 Final: Ashwin
He noted that the former New Zealand captain tries different strategies—stepping out to loft the ball over extra cover, playing delicate chip shots, or attempting backfoot cuts to counter the Indian leg-spinner. However, Jadeja’s variations in pace and length make him unpredictable, and Ashwin is excited for the high-stakes mind game between the duo.
Ravichandran Ashwin further went on to explain that Jadeja’s biggest strength is his speed, saying his former bowling partner bowls quicker than most left-arm spinners, which makes it almost impossible to play conventional sweep shots against him. However, the batters can play slog sweeps, but Ashwin feels the traditional sweep is extremely difficult for them.
The reason behind this is that Jadeja’s high release point and the sharp turn he generates give him an extra edge over Williamson. Ashwin signed off by saying, “Jaddu’s advantage over Kane Williamson is that he never bowls slow against Kane Williamson, and he also gets turn. It is because of his lovely release, high release point, and the revolution he puts on the ball.”
