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Chakravarthy Debate Heats Up

January 23, 2025 08:25 IST

Varun Chakaravarthy

IMAGE: Varun Chakravarthy has quickly become one of India's most consistent bowlers in T20Is.Photograph: BCCI

Varun Chakravarthy continues to impress.

Following his stellar performance in the first T20I against England, the leg-spinner has garnered further praise from former Tamil Nadu team-mate Dinesh Karthik.

This comes after DK urged the BCCI to include Chakravarthy in the Champions Trophy squad two months ago, despite his exclusion from the ODI squad.

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Varun Chakaravarthy

Chakravarthy, who has quickly become one of India's most consistent bowlers in T20Is, further cemented his reputation with a brilliant 3-23 in the first T20I in Kolkata.

Reacting to his earlier tweet where he expressed that India would make a 'grave error' if Chakravarthy wasn't picked for the Champions Trophy, Karthik asked on X, 'Could they have fitted him in????'

Team India announced its 15-man squad for theChampions Trophy 2025 on Saturday, January 18, 2025. A notable absentee was Karun Nair, the in-form batter who was on a run-scoring spree in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

When asked about Nair's exclusion, Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar acknowledged the batter's exceptional form but explained that it was difficult to find a place for him in the squad.

'We did discuss Karun Nair,' Agarkar said. 'Averaging 750-plus is special, but fitting everyone into a 15-man squad is difficult.'

DK's tweet about fitting in Chakravarthy and Agarkar's comment on fitting in players into the team seem to echo the same sentiment: When it comes to squad selection, not everyone can make the cut.

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