Indian mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has been rewarded with his first ODI call-up for the three-game series against England. The move may see the Right-arm leg break show his potential in the 50-over format and his inclusion in India's final squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy to be played in Pakistan and Dubai.
Vice-captain Shubman Gill confirmed his inclusion in the side at a press conference in Nagpur on Tuesday. The 33-year-old spinner was seen training with India's ODI squad before the three-match ODI series against England, which starts on Thursday in Nagpur.
According to sources in IANS, he had been taken into the ODI team at the insistence of head coach Gautam Gambhir, who wanted him there in the side for the bilateral series.
Chakaravarthy's potential selection is driven by his remarkable 'Player of the Series' performance in the recently-concluded five-match T20I series against England, where he finished as India's highest wicket-taker with scalping 14 wickets, including a sensational five-fer.
His variations and deceptive spin troubled the English batting lineup, which was a significant factor in India's 4-1 series victory. Chakravarthy has played only 23 List A (50-over) games, but his record is impressive with 59 wickets at a strike rate of 19.8.
Recently, he made a statement with his performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, finishing as the highest wicket-taker among the spinners. He took 18 wickets at an average of 12.16 and a best of 5-9.
The provisional Champions Trophy squad announced by India includes four spinners: Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, and Kuldeep Yadav.
The two-week competition, beginning on February 19, will see the top eight teams play 15 matches over 19 days in Pakistan and the UAE.
Group A features Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and New Zealand, while Group B includes Afghanistan, England, Australia, and South Africa.
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