Jadeja, Hardik, and Axar at 4, 5, and 6: R Ashwin suggests new batting slots for all-rounders in ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Ravichandran Ashwin wants Ravindra Jadeja to bat at the No.4 in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Shreyas Iyer is the designated No.4 batter in one-day international, but Aswhin feels Jadeja cannot show his talent down the order.

Ashwin said that if he was the decision-maker, he would send Jadeja, Hardik Pandya, and Axar Patel at 4, 5, and 6 in the fifty-over format. KL Rahul and Hardik bat at No.5 and 6 at the moment.

India will play all their Champions Trophy matches in Dubai, and it is possible to play an extra spin all-rounder by dropping a full-time batter.

“You can’t get the best out of Ravindra Jadeja by making him bat at No.7. Even in Test cricket, he has played at No.5, and there is no harm in trying him at 4 in the ODIs,” R Ashwin said.

“You have another all-rounder in the form of Hardik Pandya. I think he can also bat between 4 to 7. I always rated Jadeja highly as a batter,” he added.

Washington Sundar batted at No.4 in the ODI series against Sri Lanka. “Jadeja has been playing for years and knows how to handle pressure. He hit 10 runs off 2 balls to win the IPL final for Chennai Super Kings in 2023.”

“For me, Jaddu, Hardik, and Axar should bat at 4, 5, 6,” he concluded.

India’s squad for the Champions Trophy

Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja.

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