Varun Chakaravarthy, the mystery spinner, has become a topic of discussion regarding his potential inclusion in India’s ODI squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy. Despite yet to make his ODI debut, Chakaravarthy’s standout performances in T20Is have significantly raised his profile. Last year, he played seven T20Is, taking 17 wickets at an impressive strike rate of 9.8, showcasing his ability to make an impact with the ball.
In addition, Chakaravarthy has been in outstanding form in domestic cricket. He is currently the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, with 18 wickets in just six matches, maintaining a strike rate of 13.89. His consistent success has drawn praise from former cricketer Aakash Chopra.
Chopra, in a recent video on his YouTube channel, highlighted Chakaravarthy’s growing reputation: “Varun Chakaravarthy has been on a roll, picking up wickets consistently. He has been fantastic in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, including a five-wicket haul against Rajasthan. His performances since returning to the Indian T20I team have been remarkable.”
Chopra also addressed the rumours surrounding Chakaravarthy's possible inclusion in the squad, suggesting that his selection could lead to Ravindra Jadeja’s exclusion. Jadeja, who retired from T20I cricket, has struggled in recent ODI appearances, notably failing to make an impact in India’s series against Sri Lanka last year. He last played for India in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
"The rumour mill is buzzing with talk of Varun Chakaravarthy’s potential inclusion in the Champions Trophy squad. If he does make it, there are speculations that Ravindra Jadeja might be the one to miss out," Chopra noted.
Further fueling the conversation, Chopra also predicted that Axar Patel could replace Jadeja in the XI: "I had hoped I hadn’t heard this, but it’s been suggested that Jadeja might not cut it. Instead, we could see Axar Patel coming in for him in the squad. There is a real possibility of this happening."
As the Champions Trophy draws closer, all eyes will be on how the selectors finalize the squad, with Chakaravarthy’s recent form adding further intrigue to the debate.
