ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Gautam Gambhir ignores Rohit Sharma's opinion on Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarthy's selection
Published - 12 Feb 2025, 12:05 PM | Updated - 12 Feb 2025, 12:18 PM
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India National Cricket Team head coach Gautam Gambhir is currently facing intense heat for his controversial changes in the 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Gautam Gambhir once again proved his loyalty towards KKR by selecting Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarthy for the upcoming prestigious tournament.
On Tuesday (February 12), the BCCI put an end to the uncertainty about Jasprit Bumrah's participation in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, as the fast bowler has been ruled out of the tournament due to a back injury despite his scan reports were satisfactory.
Jasprit Bumrah ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 despite scans were 'OK'
It is being said that Bumrah was given five weeks of rest before rehab at the NCA under trainer Rajnikanth and physio Thulasi. However, Bumrah’s scans were “OK,” but the NCA head, Nitin Patel, was unsure if he’d be fit to bowl from the start of the tournament, but he can be fine to bowl in the knockouts. So, the final decision was left to chief selector Ajit Agarkar.
India’s final squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy has raised many eyebrows after two surprising last-minute changes. The BCCI has named young pacer Harshit Rana, who made his ODI debut against England in the ongoing home series, as Jasprit Bumrah’s replacement.
However, the Indian selectors made another shocking call to drop Yashasvi Jaiswal for the in-form spinner Varun Chakaravarthy for the upcoming eight-nation tournament. Jaiswal had opened alongside Rohit Sharma in the first ODI against England but was overlooked in the squad.
Gautam Gambhir faces backlash for controversial changes in the Champions Trophy squad
Shreyas Iyer has already delivered two match-winning knocks in the ongoing ODI series against England, forcing the national selectors to leave Yashasvi Jaiswal out for Varun Chakravarthy for the tournament. But this call is unjustified as they pick a bowler for the batter.
However, Yashasvi has been named among the non-traveling reserves alongside Shivam Dube and Mohammed Siraj for the ICC tournament. Meanwhile, it is evident that Gautam Gambhir is behind the selection of Harshit Rana and Varun Chakaravarthy in the CT squad.
Gambhir has openly supported Rana despite the heavy criticism on the Australia tour and then made sure he could play a couple of ODIs before taking him to Dubai for the tournament. He did the same thing with Chakravarthy, and that highlights his influence in the team selection.
Gautam Gambhir’s KKR connection behind Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarthy's selection
It is clear that there is a KKR influence in Gambhir’s decisions, and fans have already started questioning and slamming Gambhir for selecting Rana and Varun purely not on a merit basis but due to his preferences. Notably, Rana and Varun both won the IPL 2024 with KKR under Gambhir’s mentorship.
Now, sources dropped a major bombshell about the selection of Rana and Chakravarthy in the Champions Trophy squad. It is being said that only Gambhir decided to pick the duo for the marquee event. Even Rohit Sharma’s opinion was ignored in Rana and Chakravarthy’s selection.
A PTI report claimed that Gautam Gambhir played a key role in the selection of Harshit Rana and Varun Chakaravarthy in India’s squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. The report revealed that it was Gambhir's call to select Rana and Varun in the 15-member squad.
Now, the Men in Blue are heading into the Champions Trophy with a total of five spinners. However, only three are likely to play at a time, which left the fans baffled with the idea of having limited batting options in the squad for the tournament.
