Karthik revives the two-month-old request for Varun Chakaravarthy to join the 'Champions Trophy' team: Could India have accommodated him?

Dinesh Karthik, a former Indian wicketkeeper-batsman, has reiterated his backing for Varun Chakravarthy after the leg-spinner's exceptional display in the opening T20I game against England. Karthik had urged the BCCI to select Chakravarthy for the Champions Trophy squad a few months ago, and he has once again praised the spinner for his impressive performances in T20Is. Despite his outstanding performances, the 29-year-old was not included in the ODI squad due to the limited-overs format of the Champions Trophy tournament.

Chakravarthy, who has quickly become one of India's most consistent bowlers in the shortest format over the past months, cemented his reputation with a brilliant 3/23 performance in the first T20I in Kolkata on Wednesday. His ability to adapt on various pitches have earned him positive reviews, including from Karthik, who has been following the bowler’s progress closely.

Reacting to his earlier tweet from two months ago, where he stated that India would make a “grave error” if they don't pick Chakaravarthy for the Champions Trophy, Karthik shared his thoughts on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “Could they’ve fitted him in????”

Chakaravarthy's strong performances

Chakravarthy, known for his deceptive variations and uncanny accuracy, had been particularly exceptional during the second T20I of the series against South Africa, where he returned remarkable figures of 5/17. Though India lost the game, Varun’s spell stood out as the best T20I figures by a bowler from a full member nation in a losing cause.

Despite a significant break between India's T20I outings, Chakaravarthy showed the same consistency on Wednesday against England. where he took three wickets; he dismissed three of England's star batters – captain Jos Buttler, Harry Brook, and Liam Livingstone.

Chakravarthy’s performances have also been impressive in the IPL, where he played a vital role for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). With 21 wickets at an average of 19.14 in IPL 2024, Varun has showcased his immense potential across all formats.

Although Varun has yet to make his ODI debut, his recent displays have only strengthened the argument for his inclusion in future limited-overs squads.

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