India skipper Rohit Sharma shared his thoughts on mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy’s chances of making it to the squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of India’s first ODI against England at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on Thursday, Rohit addressed the possibility of including the spinner in the long-term plans.
Varun Chakaravarthy, who was recently added to India’s squad for the three-match ODI series against England, has been in stellar form. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced his selection on Tuesday following his impressive performance in the five-match T20I series against England, where he picked up 14 wickets, including a five-wicket haul in Rajkot. His outstanding bowling display earned him the Player of the Series award. He has now joined the ODI squad in Nagpur, as confirmed by BCCI.
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Speaking on Chakaravarthy’s inclusion in the squad, Rohit Sharma stated that the management wanted to explore their options with the 33-year-old spinner. While acknowledging that his recent success came in the T20 format, Rohit emphasized that Chakaravarthy brings something different to the team. He mentioned that the ODI series provides an opportunity to assess what he can offer in the 50-over format.
When asked about the mystery spinner’s chances of making it to the Champions Trophy squad, Rohit indicated that while no final decisions have been made, Chakaravarthy will certainly be in contention if he continues to perform well. He stated that the team is not currently thinking about the final squad selection for the tournament, but if things go as planned and he meets the requirements, his inclusion will definitely be considered.
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will feature 15 matches and is set to be played from February 19 to March 9. Pakistan and UAE will co-host the tournament under a hybrid model, with India scheduled to play its matches in Dubai.
Rohit also addressed a question about pacer Mohammed Shami’s performance in the recent T20I series against England. He defended the veteran bowler, stating that failing to perform in a few games does not define his abilities. Rohit highlighted Shami’s exceptional performance in the ODI World Cup 2023 and emphasized his contributions to Indian cricket over the past decade. He reminded everyone that Shami has won many matches for India and taken crucial wickets, urging fans and analysts to consider his overall track record rather than a few recent games.
Shami played only two matches in the T20I series against England, picking up three wickets at an average of 16.67.
The second ODI between India and England will take place at Cuttack’s Barabati Stadium on Sunday, while the final match of the series is scheduled for February 12 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
India’s updated squad for ODI series against England: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy.
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