Ravichandran Ashwin has expressed strong support for Varun Chakravarthy’s inclusion in India’s Champions Trophy 2025 squad, following Chakravarthy’s exceptional performances in the recent T20I series. Chakravarthy notably secured the Player of the Series award against England, taking 14 wickets in five matches.
Ashwin acknowledged the challenge of integrating Chakravarthy into the existing squad, which already comprises four spinners: Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar. He noted that adding Chakravarthy would increase the spin options to five, raising questions about which player might be omitted to accommodate this change.
Highlighting Chakravarthy’s limited experience in One Day Internationals (ODIs), Ashwin suggested that the upcoming ODI series against England could serve as an opportunity to assess his suitability for the Champions Trophy. He stated, “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.”
Ashwin also commended Chakravarthy’s recent achievements, congratulating him on his first Player of the Tournament award and referring to him as “the Chakravarthy of T20I cricket at the moment.” He expressed his desire to see Chakravarthy continue to grow and excel in his cricketing career.
In summary, Ashwin advocates for Chakravarthy’s inclusion in the Champions Trophy squad, contingent upon his performance in the forthcoming ODI series against England, while acknowledging the complexities such a selection would entail.
