IND vs ENG: Rohit Sharma hints at Varun Chakravarthy’s ODI Debut, possible Champions Trophy call-up
Xtra Time Web Desk: India captain Rohit Sharma hinted at a potential late change in the team’s Champions Trophy 2025 squad during the pre-match press conference on Wednesday, February 5. Sharma all but confirmed Varun Chakravarthy’s ODI debut in the upcoming 3-match series against England, stating that a strong performance could earn the mystery spinner a spot in the ICC tournament squad.
India are set to play three ODIs against England as part of their preparations for the Champions Trophy. This will be their first ODI series since the away tour of Sri Lanka, which India lost 0-2. The team will be without their star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, whose participation in the Champions Trophy remains uncertain as India aims to avoid rushing him back into international cricket.
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Varun Chakravarthy was a late addition to the ODI squad following his stellar performance in the T20I series against England, where he claimed 14 wickets in 5 matches and earned the Player of the Series award. His impressive form continued in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he took 18 wickets in just 6 games, further solidifying his case for selection.
"Varun has clearly got something different about him, and we want to see what we can do. I understand it's a different format. Right now we are not thinking about the CT, but if he does well, then there is something to think about," Rohit Sharma said ahead of the ODI series.
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If selected, this would be the second time Varun has been fast-tracked into an ICC tournament squad. He was previously included in the 2021 T20 World Cup but failed to pick up a wicket.
India’s Champions Trophy squad includes 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.
With Varun’s unique skill set and recent performances, India may consider him a valuable asset for the spin-friendly conditions expected in the Champions Trophy.
