Varun Chakaravarthy has been added to the Indian ODI squad during their short preparatory camp in Nagpur ahead of the three-match series against England starting February 6. The mystery spinner’s inclusion is seen as a strategic move, considering his past success against the same opposition in T20Is.
Chakaravarthy made headlines during the five-match T20I series against England, where he claimed 14 wickets, including a five-wicket haul in Rajkot. His remarkable performances made him a key figure in India’s bowling lineup.
In a press conference, India’s vice-captain Shubman Gill confirmed Chakaravarthy’s inclusion in the squad, marking a potential debut for the 33-year-old spinner in ODIs. Despite having played 23 List A matches for Tamil Nadu in domestic cricket, Chakaravarthy is yet to don the ODI jersey for India. His most recent appearance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy saw him take a five-wicket haul against Rajasthan in the preliminary quarter-final.
Former India off-spinner R Ashwin had previously advocated for Chakaravarthy’s inclusion in India’s Champions Trophy squad. “I have a feeling Varun might get a chance to play in the India vs England ODI series. It’s important to assess him before considering him for the Champions Trophy,” Ashwin stated on his YouTube channel.
India’s Squad for England ODIs:
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami
With Nagpur’s spin-friendly conditions, Chakaravarthy’s addition adds depth to India’s bowling attack, sparking anticipation for his ODI debut.
