Veteran Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has put forth some audacious recommendations regarding India's lineup for the upcoming Champions Trophy next month. The recent Test series defeats against New Zealand and Australia have placed head coach Gautam Gambhir and the selection committee under scrutiny, as several recent selection decisions have proven to be detrimental. BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla has announced that the meeting to finalize the Champions Trophy squads is scheduled for January 18-19. The selection committee has yet to reveal the squad for this significant ICC event, prompting former cricketers to begin speculating about potential selections.

Harbhajan, known for his candid opinions, emphasized that Sanju Samson should be chosen over Rishabh Pant as the wicketkeeper-batsman for the squad.

"I believe either Sanju Samson or Rishabh Pant should be selected. I advocate for Sanju due to his experience in South Africa. While Rishabh performed admirably in Australia, the length of that tour means that if he is rested, it should not be a major concern," Harbhajan stated on his YouTube channel.

Samson has recently surpassed Pant in the hierarchy for T20 internationals, showcasing his batting prowess. Following Rohit Sharma's retirement from T20Is, Sanju seized the opportunity, opening for India in the shortest format and demonstrating his skill with a century against Bangladesh on home soil. He further distinguished himself by becoming the first player to score three centuries in T20Is within a single calendar year.

‘I have chosen Axar Patel over Ravindra Jadeja’

Harbhajan has made a noteworthy prediction by selecting Axar Patel in preference to Ravindra Jadeja, who has been a crucial component of India's ODI team for several years. Jadeja, an accomplished all-rounder known for his consistent contributions across all facets of the game, now finds himself in a situation where he may be excluded from the squad. Given Axar Patel's recent impressive performances, it appears likely that only one of the two will secure a spot on the flight to Dubai.

"I have opted for Axar Patel instead of Ravindra Jadeja. I believe Axar is prepared to take on the responsibilities that Jadeja has successfully managed for many years," he stated.

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