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SPORTS FEBRUARY 21, 2025 | The Indian Eye 38

CHAMPIONS TROPHY 2025

Without Bumrah but with Varun, can India

do wonders at the coming clash of titans?

The biggest match of the ICC tournament between two arch-rivals,

India and Pakistan, will be played on February 23

OUR BUREAU gland, head coach Gautam Gambhir
lifted the veil over the reason behind
Mumbai
the spinner’s late inclusion.
he eight-team Champions According to the Indian head
Trophy 2025 tournament will coach, Chakravarthy emerging as a
Tfeature 15 matches and will be wicket-taking option in the middle
played across Pakistan and Dubai. overs was the reason for including
The ICC Champions Trophy from another spinner in the squad.
February 19 to March 9 will be host- “Look, the only reason was be-
ed by Pakistan and UAE, with India cause we wanted another wicket-tak-
playing its matches in Dubai under a ing option in the middle. We know
hybrid model. what Varun brings to the table and
Former cricketer Kapil Dev on know that Varun can be a massive
Friday sent his best wishes to Ro- threat to a lot of teams who haven’t
hit Sharma-led Men in Blue ahead played him. He could be an X-factor
of the tournament. Speaking to the as well,” Gambhir said in the post-
reporters in Kolkata, Kapil Dev said match press conference.
that every player in the Team India Gambhir made one aspect of
squad are important. “... I want to Chakravarthy’s inclusion in the
wish all the luck and hope to the squad, which is that the mystery
team. Every player is important but spinner is not guaranteed a spot in
when you have to win the champion- the playing XI.
ship, do not depend on one player. It “I’m not going to say that he’s
depends on the team...,” Kapil Dev going to start and all that stuff, but
told reporters. it’s always good to have a strong
The biggest match of the ICC bowling line-up because we know
tournament between two arch-rivals, that if he can get those wickets in the
India and Pakistan, will be played on middle,” he added.
February 23. India will start its cam- Chakravarthy’s impressive run
paign against Bangladesh on Febru- has become evident in the T20Is, but
ary 20. India’s last league match will it was the five home matches against
be against New Zealand on March 2. Varun Chakravarthy in action during the 2nd ODI against England at Cuttack last week (ANI) England that truly left everyone
The Board of Control for Crick- mesmerised.
et in India (BCCI) released a state- pions Trophy, which is set to begin his clinical nature and returned with He finished the five T20Is as
ment on Tuesday night to confirm next week on Wednesday. figures of 1/54 in 10 overs. the leading wicket-taker across both
Bumrah’s absence from the tour- The first one was widely specu- Harbhajan welcomed the deci- teams, scything 14 scalps at a stag-
nament. “Fast bowler Jasprit Bum- lated by many, pace spearhead Jas- sion, especially after evaluating the gering average of 9.86, including a
rah has been ruled out of the 2025 prit Bumrah being ruled out of the match-defining spells that Chakra- five-wicket haul.
ICC Champions Trophy due to a tournament with a lower back injury varthy has delivered for India in India’s squad for ICC Cham-
lower back injury. The Men’s Selec- and Harshit Rana coming in as his white-ball cricket. pions Trophy, 2025: Rohit Sharma
tion Committee has named Harshit replacement. “I think Varun’s selection is a (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-cap-
Rana as Bumrah’s replacement,” The second was a surprise masterstroke. People will ask where tain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL
BCCI stated. to many: young opener Yashas- he came from and all that. But I Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK),
Former ball tweaker Harbhajan vi Jaiswal was getting dropped for think it is a masterstroke. If he has Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Wash-
Singh believes India management’s Chakravarthy. The decision left been included, he should play. He ington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav,
decision to include mystery spinner fans and former cricketers with split has performed incredibly well in the Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arsh-
Varun Chakravarthy in the Cham- views, with some questioning the past couple of matches. India can deep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun
pions Trophy squad is a “master- need while others asking to bolster use spin to win and they have that Chakaravarthy.
stroke.” the pace department. type of bowlers,” Harbhajan said on Non-travelling substitutes: Ya-
On Tuesday night, India an- His inclusion came after his ODI his YouTube channel. shasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj and
nounced two massive changes in its debut against England in the second After India swept away the ODI Shivam Dube. The three players will
15-member squad for the Cham- ODI, a match where he maintained series with a 3-0 win against En- travel to Dubai as and when required.

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