Former India National Cricket Team off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has backed the selection of a T20I superstar in the ODI squad for the upcoming series against the England National Cricket Team as well as the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Ravichandran Ashwin reckons that the T20I superstar still has the chance to make it to the ODI squad as the BCCI has only named a provisional squad and can make a last-minute change.
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I have a feeling he might make it – Ravichandran Ashwin on Varun Chakravarthy
Speaking on his official YouTube channel, the India bowling great Ravichandran Ashwin stated that he believes the 33-year-old mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy could be on selectors’ radar for ODI call-up ahead of ICC Champions Trophy 2025. While praising Varun Chakravarthy, Ravichandran Ashwin said:
“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.
“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.”
Notably, India have only three proper seamers and four spinners in the squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja are spinners, while Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, and Jasprit Bumrah, whose availability is still not confirmed, are the pacers.
I have a feeling that Varun might get a chance to play in the ODI series – Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin further said that Varun Chakravarthy, after decimating English batters in the recently concluded T20I series, could be in line to feature in the ODI series against England.
“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,” Ravichandran 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,” Ashwin added.
Varun Chakravarthy has been sensational in T20Is
Varun Chakravarthy, since making his India comeback, has been exceptional, and he has emerged as the most dangerous T20I bowler in world cricket.
Chakravarthy has worked a lot on his game, and with his brilliant variations, he has haunted the batters of England and South Africa. In the recent T20I series against England, he bagged 14 wickets in 5 matches, at an average of 9.85, an economy of 7.66, and a strike rate of 7.7.
Before that, he played 4 T20I matches in South Africa where he bagged 12 wickets at an average of 11.50, an economy of 8.62, and a strike rate of 8.0.
Varun Chakravarthy is in red-hot form in T20Is at the moment and there is a chance that the selection committee would look to use it in the ODIs. Although the spinner has not featured in any ODI matches for India, he was sensational in the recent Vijay Hazare Trophy where he picked up 18 wickets in 6 matches.
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