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Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh has sparked some intriguing debate over India’s potential lineup for the upcoming 2025 Champions Trophy. With the tournament finally scheduled to take place from February 19 to March 9 in a hybrid format across Pakistan and the UAE, Harbhajan has made a bold prediction regarding the spin-bowling all-rounders.
He believes that Axar Patel is primed to take over the role of Ravindra Jadeja in the squad. While both are accomplished left-arm spinners, Harbhajan highlighted Axar’s significant improvement with the bat in recent times, giving him the edge. With only room for one such all-rounder in the team, Harbhajan is backing the Gujarat player to secure his spot for the eight-nation event.
“I have chosen Axar Patel over Ravindra Jadeja. I think Axar is ready to fulfil the role that Jadeja has done for so many years,” Harbhajan Singh said
Jadeja’s recent form has raised some concerns, as he hasn’t been able to produce the expected performances. On the other hand, Axar has been steadily improving, consistently demonstrating his growing prowess on the international stage.
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Harbhajan Singh has weighed in on the ongoing debate about India’s wicketkeeping options for the Champions Trophy, suggesting that if KL Rahul is rested, it wouldn’t be a major issue. Rahul appears to be the frontrunner for the wicketkeeping role in the tournament, but the choice for the second spot between Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson remains up for discussion.
Sanju Samson, after a historic 2024 where he became the first batter to score three T20I centuries in a calendar year, has been in impressive form. In contrast, Pant’s performances in the white-ball format last year left much to be desired.
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