In-shape Mystery Spinner Varun Chakravarthy is included in the Indian ODI team after his heroic deeds in the recently closed T20i series against England, because the team management wants the KKR Mystery Spinner to continue the momentum “. There is a fair chance that Chakravarthy might replace one of the four specialized spinners in the Champions Trophy Squad. It could be one of Kuldeep Yadav or Washington Sundar, which could possibly be settled to accommodate Chakravarthy before the last team is announced. Much will depend on how he does it in the ODIs.
Chakravarthy, who received 14 Wickets in five T20is against England and was assessed on the 'player of the series', was not opted for the Three ODIs against England and the Champions Trophy later this month.
Chakravarthy was seen on Tuesday training and bowling in the nets.
“Yes, Varun Chakravarthy is part of the team,” confirmed India Vice-Captain Shubman Gill after training the team in a media interaction.
It is understanding that head coach Gautam Gambhir wants chakravarthy to remain in rhythm and bowl for people like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant.
With the deadline for team changes for the Champions trophy before 12 February, he remains a strong candidate for selection. However, it is unlikely that he will be added to the CT team without playing a single ODI.
India has three finger spinners-two left-wing armers (Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel) and one off-arm off-spinner in Washington Sundar. Kuldeep Yadav, who returns to the Indian team after undergoing a Sporthernia operation in October 2024, is the only wrist spinner in the team.
“From now on, the team management that Varun would bowl in ODI Squad Nets before the English series. Varun does not play a cricket with red ball,” a senior BCCI source told PTI about anonymity conditions.
“With the domestic white ball season already closed, he has no assignments until the start of IPL at the end of March. He is in a good rhythm and they want him to continue,” he added.
When asked if there is a possibility that it will be selected for the ODI series and the subsequent Champions trophy based on the current form, the source replied: “The selectors have already chosen four spinners and you only have three ODI games games .
“But if Team Management wants Varun, it will certainly have to speak with the chairman of the selection committee. Whether they intend or not, is still unknown.”
The men in Blue do not have a second wrist spinner and the strong form of chakravarthy can work to his advantage. When he last played on the flatter tracks in Dubai during the T20 World Cup 2021, Chakravarthy had difficulty making an impact.
Since then, however, he has improved considerably and more focused on over-spin to refine his variations.
The English team did not read him well and in Champions Trophy is one of the opposition Bangladesh, who was forbidden by him during the T20i series in October. He could also be an unknown entity for most teams of New Zealand and Pakistan.
Moreover, he has consistently performed on batting-friendly surfaces in the recent T20i series against England, ending as the leading Wicket task at an impressive average of 9.85. India will play all their competition matches in Dubai.
Chakravarthy took 18 wickets for Tamil Nadu in the National One Day Championship.
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