New Delhi:
The Indian team for the Champions Trophy 2025 to be held in February-March next month can be announced tomorrow on Saturday or Sunday. January 12 is the deadline for the announcement of the team, so everyone including the fans are keeping an eye on the team. Although many players are contenders for selection, but according to sources, mystery spinner Varun Chakraborty, who has shown significant improvement in his bowling and fitness in recent times, has become a strong contender for selection. India will return to international cricket on January 22 in Kolkata through a series of five T20 Internationals and three ODI matches against England. After this he will go to Dubai for the Champions Trophy campaign. Pakistan will host the remaining half of the matches of the tournament. The senior men’s selection committee headed by Ajit Agarkar will meet on Saturday.
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Sources said, “The possibility of selection for India in ODI matches has become very strong for Chakraborty. Apart from his place being confirmed in the T20 team, now the selectors can also give him a place in ODIs. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Varun scored 18. Has taken wickets and is the highest wicket taker so far. This also includes the feat of taking five wickets in a match. Chakraborty, who performed brilliantly in India’s victory in the T20 series against Bangladesh and South Africa, took 5 wickets for 52 runs for Tamil Nadu in the pre-quarterfinal match of Vijay Hazare Trophy. However, this did not give them victory over Rajasthan at Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara.
But due to Kuldeep Yadav’s recovery from hernia surgery and return to bowling, he has still not returned to competitive matches. The reason is that he is still playing at the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru. In such a situation, Varun has a chance to make a place in India’s ODI team for the England series and Champions Trophy, because the selectors are going to discuss about the spin department.
According to sources, “KL Rahul will be rested from the three ODI matches against England as it has been decided to keep him fresh for the Champions Trophy.” Rahul played five Test matches in Australia where he impressed with his important opening innings in Perth and Brisbane. Rahul being given rest also means that India is going to choose a back-up player for him in the home ODI matches against England to be played in Nagpur, Cuttack and Ahmedabad from 6-12 February.
In last year’s ODI against Sri Lanka, which India lost 2-0, Rahul and Rishabh Pant were the keeper-batsmen. Sources also said that Washington Sundar’s selection is also certain in both the teams, while all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who impressed by scoring 114 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, is ready to play the five-match T20 series against England. India has won the Champions Trophy twice and is one of the most successful teams in the eight-team competition along with Australia.
