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Varun Chakravarthy Replaces Bumrah in India’s ODI Squad for England Series
In a significant squad update, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Tuesday that star pacer Jasprit Bumrah will be replaced by mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy for the upcoming three-match home ODI series against England, scheduled from February 6 to 12.
Bumrah’s Injury Update
This development comes a day after reports emerged that Bumrah had reached the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru to undergo scans on his injured back. Initially, Bumrah was expected to miss the first two ODIs but might have returned for the final match in a bid to play at least one game before the eight-team ICC Champions Trophy 2025. However, chairman of the men’s senior selection committee Ajit Agarkar confirmed:
“Bumrah has been told to off-load for five weeks after and he won’t be available for the first two ODIs against England.”
Agarkar further mentioned that the board is awaiting more detailed updates on Bumrah’s condition in early February. With his extended absence from the series, doubts have emerged regarding his participation in the upcoming global tournament. Although he is part of India’s Champions Trophy squad, if Bumrah does not recover in time, he may be replaced by Harshit Rana.
Varun Chakravarthy’s Breakthrough
Varun Chakravarthy has been added to the ODI squad based on his outstanding performance in the recent five-match T20I series, where he emerged as the highest wicket-taker for India, claiming 14 wickets at an average of 9.86 with an economy rate of 7.66.
- First ODI Venue: Varun travelled with the squad to Nagpur, the venue for the first ODI, and trained on Tuesday ahead of the series opener on Thursday.
- Performance Credentials: Uncapped in ODIs, Varun has played only 23 List A games but impressed in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he was the second highest wicket-taker with 18 wickets in six matches for Tamil Nadu.
His inclusion bolsters an already strong spin attack, which includes Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar. This addition is particularly significant since these ODIs are the first 50-over matches India has played since August last year and represent the only series before the forthcoming Champions Trophy.
Squad Implications for Upcoming Tournaments
Several specialist bowlers in the Champions Trophy squad, including Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, and Jasprit Bumrah, are on the comeback trail from injuries. Bumrah is slated to play only in the third ODI against England, with Harshit Rana covering the first two matches.
India ODI Squad vs. England
- Rohit Sharma (captain)
- Shubman Gill (vice-captain)
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- KL Rahul
- Hardik Pandya
- Axar Patel
- Washington Sundar
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Mohammed Shami
- Arshdeep Singh
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Rishabh Pant
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Harshit Rana (first two ODIs)
- Jasprit Bumrah (third ODI)
- Varun Chakravarthy
With this strategic change, the spotlight now turns to Varun Chakravarthy. Can he fill the void left by Bumrah and perform at a level that helps India prepare for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025? Fans and analysts will be watching closely as the series unfolds.
Stay tuned for more updates on India’s preparations and performance as the team gears up for critical international fixtures ahead of the Champions Trophy.
