The Indian selectors have named an updated ODI squad for the team’s three-match series against England that starts from Thursday in Nagpur. Mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, who made life difficult for the England batters in the recent T20 series, is a late inclusion and has already started training with the ODI squad at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium.
So is he an addition or replacement?
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar had last month announced a squad for both the England ODIs and Champions Trophy. The composition of both the squads was same barring pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah who has been included for the ICC event but was excluded from the first two matches of the England series with Harshit Rana making the cut.
“Bumrah has been advised rest for five weeks, and he won’t be available for the first two ODIs against England. We are monitoring his fitness and expect an update from the medical team in early February," Agarkar had said.
It was expected that Bumrah will play in the third ODI to assess his fitness, but his name is missing in the latest squad for the series and it raises further concerns over whether he will get fit in time for the Champions Trophy that starts from February 19. The BCCI hasn’t given any official reason for his exclusion though.
Although there’s no stopping BCCI from naming Bumrah for the third ODI should the 31-year-old be deemed fit enough to resume playing competitive cricket.
He suffered from back spasms during the fifth and final Test of India’s Australia tour last month.
The deadline though for making changes to the Champions Trophy squad is reportedly February 12 after any inclusion would require approval from the ICC.
Meanwhile, Chakaravarthy has been added following his player-of-the-series award winning performance in the five-match T20I series which India won 4-1.
As per news agency PTI, Chakaravarthy was roped in as head coach Gautam Gambhir wants him to remain in rhythm and bowl to the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Rishabh Pant.
