Sun Jan 19 21:57:31 UTC 2025: ## Kuldeep Yadav to be India’s X-Factor in Champions Trophy 2025: Raina

**New Delhi:** With the Indian squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy announced, former cricketers are weighing in on the team’s prospects. Suresh Raina has highlighted chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav as a key player, predicting he will be a game-changer. Speaking on Star Sports, Raina lauded the bowling attack, emphasizing the roles of Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh in death overs and Hardik Pandya’s all-around contributions. He also raised questions about the team’s spin bowling combination, mentioning Washington Sundar and Axar Patel.

Raina believes Kuldeep’s unique bowling style and ability to deceive batsmen, particularly his dismissal of Babar Azam in a previous match, will be crucial in the middle overs. He also praised Rohit Sharma’s support for Kuldeep. Raina contrasted Kuldeep’s consistency with the mystery spin of Varun Chakravarthy, highlighting Kuldeep’s adaptability and experience as key assets. He noted Kuldeep’s impressive wicket-taking record in the middle overs since January 2023.

Meanwhile, Sunil Gavaskar offered a different perspective, predicting a different team to win the Champions Trophy, though he did not specify which team. The selection of Kuldeep, returning from injury, adds a layer of intrigue to India’s campaign. His inclusion, announced on Saturday, follows a period of recovery since undergoing hernia surgery in November.

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