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Hours after R Ashwin predicted his possible entry into India’s Champions Trophy plans, Varun Chakaravarthy has reportedly joined India’s ODI squad for a camp in Nagpur before the England series.
Varun Chakravarthy (Picture Credit: X/@BCCI)
In-form spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has reportedly joined India’s ODI squad for a short camp in Nagpur ahead of the three-match series against England, which begins on February 6.
There has been no word on whether he’ll be included in the 15-member squad. However, according to The Times of India, he will be involved in the nets alongside skipper Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill who have reached the venue of the first ODI early to prepare for the series.
Chakaravarthy is yet to make his ODI debut for India but has rushed into 50-over cricket conversations through his brilliant performances in T20Is and domestic competitions.
In the recent five-match T20I series against England, he picked up a table-topping 14 wickets at a stunning average of 9.86. He didn’t go wicketless in any match and troubled almost every visiting batter with his variations — the kind of aggressive bowling India has lacked in their ODI set-up outside Kuldeep Yadav.
Chakaravarthy also has an excellent List-A record, having picked up 59 wickets at an average of 14.13 and an economy rate of 4.28 in 23 appearances. He was the joint-highest wicket-taking spinner in the recent season of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s premier 50-over competition, with 18 scalps at 12.72. In his last match, the pre-quarterfinal against Rajasthan, he took a five-wicket haul.
Ashwin predicted Chakaravarthy’s ODI entry
Recently retired India legend Ravichandran Ashwin had predicted that Varun Chakaravarthy could be in India’s scheme of things for the ODI series against England and believes that there’s a chance it might open the gate for him to the 2025 Champions Trophy which begins on February 19.
“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,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
“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,” he added.
