India’s mystery spinner, Varun Chakravarthy, has been a force to reckon with in T20 cricket. However, doubts loom over his ability to translate that success into the 50-over format. Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali has expressed skepticism about Varun Chakravarthy’s effectiveness in ODIs, suggesting that the bowler’s style may not be well-suited for the longer white-ball format.
The 33-year-old spinner Varun Chakravarthy made waves in the recently concluded five-match T20I series against England, where he was named Player of the Series. Varun Chakravarthy’s tally of 14 wickets at an economy rate of 7.76 highlighted his prowess in the shortest format. His ability to deceive batters with his variations played a pivotal role in India’s triumph.
Riding on his impressive T20 performances, Varun Chakravarthy earned his maiden ODI cap on February 9, becoming the second-oldest Indian to debut in the format. However, his debut performance in the second ODI against England in Cuttack was less than stellar. He finished with figures of 10-0-54-1, a respectable return but far from his T20 dominance.
Basit Ali, in his latest YouTube video, opined that Chakravarthy’s bowling style may not be cut out for the ODI format. The former cricketer pointed out that the spinner’s reliance on variations might not be as effective when facing batters with the luxury of settling in.
Former Pakistan star Basit Ali makes bold claim about Varun Chakravarthy ahead of Champions Trophy 2025
Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali believes India’s mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy could struggle to replicate his T20 success in ODI cricket. The 33-year-old made his ODI debut on Sunday, February 9, becoming the second-oldest Indian to debut in the format.
Varun Chakravarthy was rewarded with a maiden ODI cap following his Player of the Series-winning performance in the recently concluded five-match T20Is against England. The crafty bowler bagged 14 wickets from five innings at an economy rate of 7.76.
He registered figures of 10-0-54-1 on his ODI debut in Cuttack during the second fixture of the ongoing three-match series against England.
Basit opined that Varun Chakravarthy won’t be very effective in 50-over cricket. Explaining the reason, here’s what he said in his latest YouTube video :
“His bowling isn’t suited for 50-over cricket. He would not be able to handle it if there are five fielders in the circle. He survived because it was India’s home ground. His length is not what you need to bowl in ODIs.”
Varun Chakravarthy is not part of the Men in Blue preliminary 2025 Champions Trophy squad. It remains to be seen if he will be able to find a place in the final squad before the February 12 deadline.
Piyush Chawla believes that Varun Chakravarthy can’t straightaway walk into the team’s 2025 Champions Trophy playing XI. He pointed out that the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav have performed consistently in the past few years.
Speaking to WION, Chawla said:
“There are bowlers who have been doing well for quite some time. Axar (Patel) and (Ravindra) Jadeja all-rounders and Kuldeep, who has been taking wickets in the middle-overs for long, have been performing. So, straight away, you can’t take him (Varun) in.”
Rohit Sharma and company will face Bangladesh in their opening match of the 2025 Champions Trophy. The game will be played in Dubai on February 20.
Despite his T20 heroics, Varun Chakravarthy has not been included in India’s preliminary squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy. With the final squad deadline set for February 12, it remains to be seen whether the selectors will reconsider his inclusion. If he is to secure a spot, he may need to prove his worth in the remaining matches and adapt his bowling style to the demands of ODI cricket.