Dinesh Karthik, a former India wicketkeeper-batter, asked the selectors to include Varun Chakaravarthy in India’s squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy after the 33-year-old scored five runs in the second Twenty20 International match against South Africa on Sunday, November 10 at St George’s Park in Gqeberha.
As a teammate of the enigmatic spinner for teams like Tamil Nadu and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Karthik has witnessed firsthand Chakaravarthy’s growth. Chakaravarthy made his comeback to the Indian squad last month, finishing as the team’s joint-highest wicket-taker in the three-match Twenty20 International series against Bangladesh. He previously played in the 2021 T20 World Cup for the Men in Blue.
With eight wickets from two games against the Proteas, Chakaravarthy has been able to improve on his performances against Bangladesh. “India would be making a big mistake if they leave him out of the Champions Trophy squad,” Karthik remarked, praising the Bidar-born player.
If India does not select VARUN CHAKRAVARTHY for the Champions Trophy, they are seriously misguided. “What a fantastic bowler he is becoming,” Dinesh Karthik posted on X (previously Twitter).
Check out Dinesh Karthik’s latest post here:
If india don’t pick VARUN CHAKRAVARTHY for the Champions Trophy , then they are making a grave error
Outstanding Bowler he is turning out to be #INDvSA #CricketTwitter #Cricket
— DK (@DineshKarthik) November 10, 2024
As South Africa draws even, Varun Chakaravarthy’s incredible efforts are in vain.
In the second Twenty20 International, India sputtered to 124/6 in their 20 overs after Aiden Markram won the toss and chose to bowl first. Hardik Pandya led the tourists in scoring with an undefeated 39 from 45 deliveries. The other two Indian batsmen to reach double figures were Tilak Varma (20) and Axar Patel (27).
In response, South Africa frequently lost wickets, particularly following Chakaravarthy’s arrival in the sixth over. In his final four overs, he rattled the Proteas with figures of 5/17. Ultimately,
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the home team won with three wickets and an over remaining thanks to an outstanding eighth-wicket partnership of 42 off 20 balls between Gerald Coetzee (19*) and Tristan Stubbs (47*).