The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is ready to happen in Pakistan and the UAE, with all of India’s matches scheduled to be held in Dubai. As one of many strongest groups in white-ball cricket, India will enter the event with excessive expectations. The squad, which has already been introduced, contains a balanced mixture of skilled gamers and younger skills. Nevertheless, discussions are nonetheless ongoing about attainable late inclusions, with thriller spinner Varun Chakravarthy rising as a powerful contender following his stellar T20I performances.
Ravichandran Ashwin on how Varun Chakravarthy can function in India’s squad
Although Varun was not included in India’s squad for the Champions Trophy, his latest performances have ignited discussions about whether or not he deserves a late call-up. The thriller spinner was in sensational kind throughout the five-match T20I sequence in opposition to England, the place he bagged 14 wickets in 5 video games, incomes the Participant of the Sequence award. His influence was additionally felt within the four-match T20I sequence in opposition to South Africa in November 2024, the place he bagged 12 wickets and performed an important function in India’s success.
Considered one of India’s most interesting spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin, who retired from worldwide cricket, backed Varun’s probabilities of making it to the Champions Trophy squad. He additionally defined that India have named a provisional squad, which suggests they will nonetheless make modifications, permitting Varun to be picked within the ultimate squad.
“We’re all speaking about whether or not he ought to have been there (Champions Trophy squad). I’m pondering there’s a likelihood he could be there. I’ve a sense he may make it. There’s a likelihood as a result of all groups have named solely a provisional squad. So, he may get picked,” Ashwin mentioned on his YouTube channel.
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Problem of accommodating Varun within the squad
Whereas Ashwin believes Varun has a powerful case for choice, he additionally identified the problem of becoming him into the already well-balanced squad. India at present has 4 frontline spinners, and including one other would require dropping a pacer, which could disrupt the group’s general composition.
“However, when you take a look at the present squad, if a seamer goes out and Varun is available in, it is going to be an added spinner (5). I don’t know who they might need to drop (if they consider getting Varun in). We are going to wait and see,” Ashwin added.
With the Champions Trophy nonetheless months away, there stays a slim risk of last-minute modifications to the squad. If India re-evaluates its bowling choices based mostly on situations in Dubai, Varun may nonetheless discover himself in competition for a spot within the ultimate 15.
