Vaibhav Tripathi in Nagpur
Varun Chakravarthy has been added to India’s squad for the three-match ODI series against England, as confirmed by vice-captain Shubman Gill during a press conference in Nagpur ahead of the first ODI on Thursday.
Varun was spotted training with the Indian team at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium in Jamtha, Nagpur, bowling to top-order batters like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma under the scorching sun. His inclusion comes as a late addition, as he was not part of the original squad announced last month in Mumbai.
Rohit, Kohli, Gill, Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer arrived in Nagpur on Sunday. The rest of the ODI squad, along with the coaching staff, checked in next day. Varun was part of the second batch of players traveling from Mumbai.
“He’s a part of the squad and has been added to the squad,” Gill confirmed in the press conference.
Following an impressive T20I series against England, where he claimed 14 wickets and consistently troubled their batters, Varun has earned his ODI call-up.
Ahead of the press conference, Gill spent an hour at the nets before addressing the media. Despite the presence of more experienced players, the selectors have entrusted him with the vice-captaincy. For the 25-year-old, the added responsibility is an exciting challenge.
“This is an added responsibility,” Gill said when asked about his new role. “I take it as a challenge to lead with my performances, and definitely on the field, if Rohit bhai wants my opinion, I’ll always be ready to share it.”
Some of the batters in the current squad have been struggling for runs, and with a marquee tournament like the Champions Trophy on the horizon, it’s a concern. However, Gill isn’t stressing too much on the recent failures.
“One series doesn’t define a team’s form. In the past, players have consistently performed,” asserted Gill. “Yes, we didn’t perform as well as we would have liked, but it’s wrong to criticise the team after one bad series. It’s also important to remember that the same set of players won the World Cup and took the team to the final of another World Cup, so people should keep that in mind as well.”
When asked about the team’s morale, Gill remained upbeat. “The mood is very good. Everyone is motivated as we get another opportunity to compete in an ICC event.”
The squad includes three spin-bowling all-rounders, two specialist spinners and three fast bowlers, giving India an abundance of options. Historically, spinners have thrived in Nagpur, and with the sun beating down on the pitch, the conditions remain dry. If that trend continues, what will be the ideal team combination? Gill responded: “From what I’ve seen of the wicket, it looks like a combination of one specialist spinner and one spin-bowling all-rounder is likely. However, we will practice in the evening and assess the conditions before finalising the team.”
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