As India prepares for the Champions Trophy, one of the most talked-about players in the mix is mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy. Though he has yet to make his ODI debut, Varun’s impressive T20I form has raised questions about his potential inclusion in India’s squad for the prestigious tournament. For now, the answer to whether he will be added to the Champions Trophy squad is “possibly,” as India continues to evaluate his performances.
Varun’s inclusion in the squad for the three-match ODI series against England has been one of the most surprising eleventh-hour selections in recent times. Since his return to the Indian squad last year, the spinner has taken 31 wickets at an average of 11.25 in T20Is, making him a standout performer. While his primary success has been in the shorter format, India’s selectors are keen to see if his wicket-taking ability translates into the 50-over format.
Rohit Sharma, India’s captain, recently acknowledged Varun’s unique skill set ahead of the first ODI against England in Nagpur. “He has certainly shown something different,” said Rohit. “I understand that it is the T20 format, but he's clearly got something different about him. We just wanted to have an option and see what we can do with him. Clearly, during this series, it presents us an opportunity to play him at some stage and see what he's capable of.”
Although Rohit confirmed that the team is not yet thinking about whether Varun will make the Champions Trophy squad, he did emphasize that Varun would be in contention. "If things pan out really well for us and he does what is required, then definitely there is something that we need to think about," said the captain.
Varun, known for his ability to bowl economically and take wickets in the middle overs of T20s, has evolved his game since his return. Moving away from a pure mystery spinner, he has developed into a wrist spinner with increased overspin, making him a more consistent wicket-taker. His strong performances in the 50-overs Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker in 2023-24 and joint-second in 2024-25, further highlight his credentials.
With the Champions Trophy just around the corner, India’s squad already includes four spinners: Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, and Kuldeep Yadav, who is returning after recovering from a hernia operation. The deadline for changes to the squad is February 12, and India could make adjustments before then, as they have done in previous ICC tournaments. For example, they replaced Axar Patel with Shardul Thakur ahead of the 2021 T20 World Cup and later included R Ashwin for the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Wicketkeeper Dilemma: Rahul vs Pant
In addition to the selection of spinners, India faces another key debate—who will keep wicket in the Champions Trophy? KL Rahul has been India’s first-choice wicketkeeper in recent ODIs, contributing both with the gloves and as a middle-order batter during the 2023 World Cup. However, Rishabh Pant, who missed the World Cup after a car accident, has returned to full fitness and provides an explosive option with his left-handedness. His presence offers a dynamic contrast to the otherwise right-handed top order.
Rohit Sharma remained tight-lipped on who will start as wicketkeeper for the England ODIs but stressed that “continuity” would play an important role in the selection process. "KL has been keeping wickets for us in the ODI format for a number of years now, and he's done pretty well," said Rohit. “Both are quite capable of winning games on their own, so it's a good headache to have, whether to play KL or Rishabh. But obviously, looking at what we've done in the past, having that continuity is also very important for us."
Bumrah’s Availability Uncertainty
Another concern for India is the fitness of Jasprit Bumrah, who has been recovering from a back issue. Though Bumrah is part of India’s Champions Trophy squad, there has been no official update on his availability for the third ODI against England. The BCCI’s announcement of Varun Chakravarthy’s inclusion did not mention Bumrah, leading to speculation about his fitness status.
Rohit confirmed that the team management and selectors are awaiting the results of a scan Bumrah is scheduled to undergo in the coming days. “Once we get that scan, we’ll be able to give you more clarity on where he stands right now,” said Rohit.
As the February 12 deadline to finalize squads approaches, India’s selectors are juggling multiple important decisions, including the inclusion of Varun Chakravarthy, the wicketkeeper dilemma, and the fitness status of key players like Bumrah. With the Champions Trophy fast approaching, these selection headaches will likely be resolved soon, but for now, India’s team is still very much in the making.