ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Varun Chakravarthy to push this BIG player out of India's CT squad

The 33-year-old India National Cricket Team mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy is likely to push a star player out of India's 15-man squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Varun Chakravarthy has been in red-hot form since making his comeback to Team India in T20Is, and his exceptional performances have opened the doors for his ODI debut.

Also Read: 'Despite 6 India cricketers in the lineup...' - Mumbai selector attacks Rohit Sharma after J&K loss

Varun Chakravarthy added to India's ODI squad

Varun Chakravarthy was spotted training with Team India in Nagpur ahead of the three-match ODI series against England National Cricket Team, which sparked the speculations of his ODI call-up.

Later, in an interaction with the media, India vice-captain Shubman Gill confirmed the inclusion of Varun Chakravarthy to the squad, and the BCCI released an official statement about the same.

"The Men’s Selection Committee has added Varun Chakravarthy to India’s squad for the upcoming 3-match ODI series against England," the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in an official media release on Tuesday, February 4.

On Tuesday, Chakravarthy was seen training and bowling in the nets as the India head coach Gautam Gambhir, who rates the spinner highly, wants him to remain in rhythm and bowl to the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Rishabh Pant.

Varun Chakravarthy won the Player of the Series award vs ENG

Chakravarthy looked a class apart in the recently concluded five-match T20I series against England. He turned into a nightmare for the English batters and 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 the home series against England, the mystery spinner played 4 T20I matches in South Africa, where he picked up 12 wickets at an average of 11.50, an economy of 8.62, and a strike rate of 8.0.

Overall, Varun Chakravarthy has played 18 T20I matches and has bagged 33 wickets at an exceptional average of 14.57, an economy of 7.02, and a strike rate of 12.4 with the best bowling figures of 5/17.

He has impressed several former cricketers with his recent performances and the likes of Dinesh Karthik and Ravichandran Ashwin backed his selection in the India ODI squad.

Washington Sundar/ Kuldeep Yadav's spot in danger

According to a PTI report, there is a chance that Chakravarthy might replace one of the four specialist spinners - Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav - in India's Champions Trophy squad.

Reportedly, Chakravarthy could push one among Kuldeep Yadav or Washington Sundar out of the final squad announced by BCCI. However, a lot will depend on how he fares in the ODIs against England. Notably, the deadline for making changes to the squad is February 12, and if Varun plays ODIs against the Three Lions, he will most likely make the cut; otherwise, he might be snubbed.

"As of now, the team management wanted Varun to bowl in ODI squad nets ahead of the England series. Varun doesn't play red-ball cricket," a senior BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

"With domestic white ball season already concluded, he doesn't have any assignments till start of IPL end March. He is in good rhythm and they want him to continue that," he added.

When the BCCI source was asked about Varun Chakravarthy's selection for Champions Trophy, he replied:

"The selectors have already picked four spinners and you only have three ODI games. But if team management wants Varun, it will certainly have to speak to the chairman of selection committee. Whether they intend to or not, is still not known."