India’s Head Coach Highlights Mystery Spinner’s Role Amid Squad Changes
Ahmedabad (Gujarat), February 13:
India head coach Gautam Gambhir has defended the surprise selection of mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy over young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal in India’s 15-member squad for next week’s Champions Trophy, citing the need for an extra wicket-taking option in the middle overs.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made two notable changes to India’s squad on Tuesday night—first, ruling out star pacer Jasprit Bumrah due to a lower back injury, and second, replacing Jaiswal with Chakravarthy, making the leg-spinner the fifth spin option alongside Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Washington Sundar.
Speaking at a post-match press conference following India’s 3-0 ODI series sweep over England, Gambhir explained the rationale behind the decision.
“Look, the only reason was because we wanted another wicket-taking option in the middle. We know what Varun brings to the table and know that Varun can be a massive threat to a lot of teams who haven’t played him. He could be an X-factor as well,” Gambhir said.
Chakravarthy’s Inclusion Strengthens India’s Bowling Attack
Despite backing Chakravarthy’s selection, Gambhir made it clear that his inclusion does not guarantee a place in the playing XI.
“I’m not going to say that he’s going to start and all that stuff, but it’s always good to have a strong bowling line-up because we know that if he can actually get those wickets in the middle, it’s always going to be an advantage,” he added.
While acknowledging Jaiswal’s talent and bright future, Gambhir reiterated that the final squad could only accommodate 15 players.
“Otherwise, we know that Yashasvi has got a fabulous future ahead. It’s just that we could only pick 15,” Gambhir stated.
Jaiswal’s Limited ODI Opportunity and Chakravarthy’s Impactful Debut
Jaiswal made his ODI debut in the first match against England in Nagpur but failed to make an impression with the bat, scoring just 15 off 22 balls. Despite taking a stunning catch in the first innings, he was dropped for the second ODI in favor of Virat Kohli.
Meanwhile, Chakravarthy got his maiden ODI cap in the second match and made a solid impact, finishing with figures of 1/54 in his 10-over spell. His ability to trouble batters with his variations likely played a key role in securing his place in the Champions Trophy squad.
With India’s spin-heavy attack set for the upcoming tournament, all eyes will be on whether Chakravarthy gets a chance to showcase his skills on the big stage.