“You can assume…”: Aakash Chopra’s Champions Trophy verdict on Suryakumar Yadav

The former India batter believes that the current T20I skipper will also not be included in the team for the Champions Trophy 2025, considering he wasn't picked for the 3-match ODI series against Sri Lanka

India’s newly-appointed T20I skipper, Suryakumar Yadav isn’t in the consideration for the ODI squad as things stand and BCCI selection committee chief Ajit Agarkar had no hesitation in confirming that during a press conference on Monday. Agarkar, who held a joint press conference with the head coach Gautam Gambhir, said that Surya’s name wasn’t even discussed as the likes of KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Rishabh Pant returned to the ODI fold.

Former India batter Aakash Chopra, made a massive prediction in a video on his YouTube channel suggesting that Surya won’t be in the Indian team for the Champions Trophy next year as well, considering he isn’t flying to Sri Lanka for the 3-match ODI series. 

“Suryakumar Yadav was a part of the team that reached the final of the last (2023 ODI) World Cup. He was part of this (2024 T20) World Cup as well, the (David Miller) catch he took but he is now not part of the ODI team,” Chopra said in the video.

“A question was asked about that and he said that Suryakumar Yadav is a phenomenal and special player but he will be seen playing in T20Is only and is currently not being considered in ODIs. So if he is not being considered and the Champions Trophy is about to come, you can assume that Suryakumar Yadav won’t be seen there,” he added.