“They could’ve..”: Ex-India player questions Varun Chakravarthy’s exclusion from Champions Trophy squad

Dinesh Karthik questions India's decision to exclude Varun Chakravarthy from the Champions Trophy squad, given his strong recent performances in T20 and domestic cricket.

Former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik is questioning if not selecting Varun Chakravarthy for the ICC Champions Trophy was a missed opportunity. Varun has been performing excellently in T20Is taking 3 important wickets in the first T20I match against England in Kolkata. Karthik believes Varun’s current form is too good to be ignored, especially after such a strong start to the series on 22 January.

India’s spin-heavy squad

For the Champions Trophy, India has chosen to go with four spinners. Kuldeep Yadav makes a return after recovering from an injury. The team also includes experienced finger spinners like Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar. Despite having a spin-friendly lineup, Karthik feels that Varun should have been considered for his unique abilities and form.

Varun’s strong domestic performance

Varun Chakravarthy has been knocking on the doors of the selectors with his remarkable performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Playing for Tamil Nadu, he took 18 wickets in just six matches during the 2024-25 season. Karthik had urged the selectors to consider these performances before finalising the squad, but they opted for experienced players under the guidance of Ajit Agarkar.

Varun’s T20I comeback

After spending two years out of the national team since playing in 2021, Varun has made a successful comeback in T20I cricket. With support from coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav, he has become one of India’s top wicket-takers, grabbing 17 wickets in seven matches. He was instrumental in Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL triumph under Gambhir’s mentorship. In the recent match against England, Varun took crucial wickets, including the dangerous Jos Buttler, helping India restrict them to 132 runs in 20 overs. His performances continue to make a strong case for his inclusion in future squads.