BCCI has officially added star spinner Varun Charkravarthy to the Indian cricket team's ODI squad. He has already joined the Indian camp in Nagpur for the forthcoming first ODI of the three-match series against England. After taking 14 wickets in five games in the T20I series, the KKR star got his maiden 50-over call-up. This has also raised hopes over his potential inclusion in the Indian squad for the Champions Trophy 2025.
"The Men’s Selection Committee has added Varun Chakaravarthy to India’s squad for the upcoming 3-match ODI series against England. Varun picked 14 wickets, which included a five-wicket haul in Rajkot in the recently concluded 5-match T20I series against England. He was also the player of the series for his stellar bowling performance. Varun has joined the ODI squad in Nagpur," BCCI said in their official statement
Varun already training with India's ODI team
On Tuesday, February 4, Varun Chakravarthy was seen training with the Indian ODI squad. As the Indian side, captained by Rohit Sharma, started getting ready for the three-match series against England, which would begin on February 6, the Kolkata Knight Riders star was spotted bowling in the nets. The training session was held in the afternoon at Nagpur's Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium.
India’s updated squad for ODI series against England
Rohit Sharma (C), Ꮪhubman 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.
Ashwin on Varun
A day after former India spinner R Ashwin alluded to Varun's potential participation in India's Champions Trophy team, Varun was included in the training sessions. India has selected four spinners for their 15-man squad; if Varun is selected, it is unclear how he will be accommodated. In the recently finished T20I series, which India won 4-1, Varun had an incredible run. After claiming 14 wickets in five games, including a five-wicket haul, the spinner was named Player of the Series. The inability of England's batters to interpret Varun's variations rendered him unplayable in the middle.\
"I have a feeling that Varun might get a chance to play in the ODi series between India and England. I don't think it's an easy call to take him directly to the Champions Trophy. He has not played ODIs. I have a feeling they will give him a chance in the India vs England ODI series. If they don't give him a chance here, then it's difficult. But, nevertheless, I congratulate Varun for his first player of the tournament award. He is the Chakravarthy of T20I cricket at the moment. I wish he grows more and more," Ashwin said in his YouTube show.
The team's management,, particularly head coach Gautam Gambhir, has fully backed Varun. After Gambhir became head coach, he rejoined the T20I team after a three-year break. Varun has taken 31 wickets in 12 games after rejoining the Indian squad, making him the team's top T20I cricket match-winner. With 18 wickets in six games, Varun had a stellar run for Tamil Nadu in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He claimed two five-wicket hauls in matches against Mizoram and Rajasthan.