The Indian cricket team has made a strategic addition to its One Day International (ODI) squad by including spinner Varun Chakravarthy for the forthcoming three-match series against England. This decision comes in light of Chakravarthy's remarkable performance during the recent T20I series, where he emerged as the leading wicket-taker. His impressive statistics saw him claim 14 wickets at an average of 9.86 and an economy rate of 7.66, thereby playing a pivotal role in India's 4-1 series triumph.
Chakravarthy has officially joined the squad in Nagpur, the host city for the inaugural ODI, and has commenced training in preparation for the series opener scheduled for Thursday. His appointment marks his debut in the ODI format, as he has yet to appear in this format at the international level. His experience, although limited to List A cricket, is noteworthy; he has participated in only 23 such matches. Furthermore, his performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy solidified his selection, where he was the second highest wicket-taker of the season, securing 18 wickets over six matches while representing Tamil Nadu.
The inclusion of Varun Chakravarthy enhances an already formidable spin department that includes established players such as Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar. His addition is particularly relevant given that these ODIs will be the first 50-over games for India since August of the previous year. This series serves as a crucial preparatory phase for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, providing an opportunity for testing player combinations and strategies.
It's important to note that several key bowlers, who are part of the Champions Trophy squad, are currently recuperating from injuries. This includes Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, and Jasprit Bumrah, who is slated to join the lineup for the third ODI against England. In the meantime, Harshit Rana will take up a spot in the squad for the first two ODIs.
On the other side of the spectrum, England is making tactical preparations of its own. They have retained Rehan Ahmed as a standby player for the ODI series, who played a supportive role during the T20I matches by assisting with drink breaks. Joe Root has arrived in India prior to the fifth T20I conducted in Mumbai and is expected to reclaim his position in the batting order at No. 3 for the forthcoming matches. However, Jamie Smith's availability for the initial two ODIs remains uncertain due to a minor calf injury.
The ODI matches against England are scheduled to take place in Nagpur, Cuttack, and Ahmedabad on February 6, 9, and 12. Following this series, the Indian team will immediately proceed to Dubai for the Champions Trophy. Importantly, they have the flexibility to modify their Champions Trophy squad up until February 11 without the need for ICC approval.
The current ODI squad for India against England is as follows: Rohit Sharma serves as the captain with Shubman Gill appointed as the vice-captain. Other key players include Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana for the first two ODIs, and Jasprit Bumrah for the final ODI alongside Varun Chakravarthy.
The introduction of Varun Chakravarthy into the squad reflects India's ongoing commitment to building a strong team dynamic leading into critical series and tournaments. His skill set and recent achievements mark him as a player to watch, and observers will be keen to see how he contributes to India's performances in the ODIs against England. As the series unfolds, fans can look forward to an engaging set of matches that will not only showcase talent but will also serve as a vital assessment of the players as they gear up for the global stage in the Champions Trophy.