ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Dinesh Karthik orders BCCI to select Varun Chakravarthy in India's CT squad

Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik strongly believes that it would be a grave error if India doesn’t select Varun Chakravarthy in their squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, despite the mystery spinner having not yet made his ODI debut.

Varun Chakravarthy has been consistently impressing one and all with his spin, but he is yet to play an ODI match for India. The 29-year-old spinner has yet again showcased his talent in the second T20I against South Africa at St George's Park, where he picked up five wickets and almost put India in a winning position.

Dinesh Karthik urges India to select Varun Chakravarthy for Champions Trophy 2025

He was instrumental in dismantling the South African batting lineup, dismissing key players like Reeza Hendricks (24), Aiden Markram (3), Marco Jansen (7), Heinrich Klaasen (2), and David Miller (0) to finish with a five-wicket haul in the second T20I at the St George's Oval in Gqeberha.

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His spell left South Africa reeling, and for a moment, it seemed India had control, but Tristan Stubbs (47*) and Gerald Coetzee (19*) denied India the win, taking the hosts over the line inside 19 overs with three wickets in hand to level the ongoing four-match T20I series on Sunday, November 10.

Meanwhile, Dinesh Karthik, who has closely observed Varun Chakravarthy's growth during his time playing for Tamil Nadu, praised the Indian spinner's remarkable skill and impact on the game.

Outstanding Bowler he is turning out to be: Dinesh Karthik

Karthik also urged the national selectors to consider Varun's unique talent as a valuable asset for the Champions Trophy 2025, given his potential to make a difference in key moments.

Karthik posted on X: “If India don't pick VARUN CHAKRAVARTHY for the Champions Trophy, then they are making a grave error. Outstanding Bowler he is turning out to be.”

If india don't pick VARUN CHAKRAVARTHY for the Champions Trophy , then they are making a grave error

Outstanding Bowler he is turning out to be #INDvSA #CricketTwitter #Cricket

— DK (@DineshKarthik) November 10, 2024

Meanwhile, Varun Chakravarthy delivered an exceptional performance, registering figures of 5/17 in the second T20I against South Africa, which is the best bowling figures in T20I cricket for a player from a full-member nation in a losing cause. Despite his brilliant spell, India fell short of victory, but Varun's performance stood out as one of the highlights of the second T20I.

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Varun Chakravarthy made a remarkable comeback to Team India

Having made his T20I debut in 2021, Varun struggled to cement his place initially in the Indian cricket team but found a fresh spark earlier this year when he made his return to the national team for the T20I series against Bangladesh in October. He claimed five wickets in three T20Is against Bangladesh.

His form from the India vs Bangladesh T20I series has carried over to the ongoing four-match T20I series in South Africa, where he has been instrumental so far with the ball. In the first T20I against South Africa in Durban, Chakravarthy took three wickets, and his five-wicket haul in the second game further solidified his role as one of India's premier spinners in the T20Is.