Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has backed Varun Chakravarthy to make a late entry in the ODI Squad for a three-match series in the England tour of India 2025.
He also feels that Varun might also into the Champions Trophy 2025. Chakravarthy made an impressive outing in the recently concluded five-match T20I series and ended up as the side’s highest wicket-taker.
He picked 14 wickets from 5 matches which was the joint second-highest tally in the history of T20I bilaterals amongst any teams.
Speaking on the spinner, Ashwin said he had a feeling that the Tamil Nadu bowler might be given a chance in the ICC tournament, given India had revealed only a provisional squad.
“We are all talking about whether he should have been there (Champions Trophy squad), I am thinking there is a chance he might be there.”
“I have a feeling he might make it. There is a chance because all teams have named only a provisional squad. So, he might get picked,” R Ashwin said on his channel.
“But, if you look at the existing squad, if a seamer goes out and Varun comes in, it will be an added spinner (five). I don’t know who they would want to drop (if they think about getting Varun in). We will wait and see,” he added.
India have a group of spinners in the Champions Trophy squad. Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja have been already named in 15-member squad and Varun’s inclusion would mean that India would be adding 5 spinners to their name.
“I have a feeling that Varun might get a chance to play in the ODI series between India and England.”
“I don’t think it’s an easy call to take him directly to the Champions Trophy. He has not played ODIs. I have a feeling they will give him a chance in the India vs England ODI series,” Ashwin said.
“If they don’t give him a chance here, then it’s difficult. But, nevertheless, I congratulate Varun for his first Player of the Tournament award. He is the Chakravarthy of T20I cricket at the moment. I wish he grows more and more,” he concluded.
India might be making a change in the squad if Jasprit Bumrah failed to recover from his injury. The pacer has checked into the National Cricket Academy where the BCCI doctors are expected to take a look at him.
If Bumrah misses the ICC tournament, there might be a chance for Varun to play in the tournament.
Varun Chakravarthy has not played any ODIs for India, However, he was the best spinner in the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy. He picked up 18 wickets from just 6 matches at an average of 12.72.
India’s Squad for ODI Series vs England: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja
