IND vs ENG: Sanjay Manjrekar leaves Varun Chakravarthy out while predicting India XI for first ODI

Star India pacer Jasprit Bumrah has not been named in the updated Indian squad for the ODI series against England. The pacer sustained a back spasm in the final Test against Australia and has been in recovery mode.

Subsequently, the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) announced that Varun Chakravarthy had been added to the squad. Chakravarthy is going through a purple patch with the ball. In the recently concluded T20I series, he picked up 14 wickets in five games.

Notably, in 2024, he played seven T20Is and claimed 17 wickets at an average of 12.41. Even though the bowler seems to have form on his side, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar stated that the spinner might miss a place in the playing XI in the first ODI while predicting the India lineup. 

Varun challenges the batters to go at him: Manjrekar

The Karnataka-based spinner drew attention for all wrong reasons before his comeback to the Indian team. He was viewed as a bowler who lost the plot after getting hit for boundaries. But after his updated version with the Indian team and against England, Manjrekar commended the 33-year-old for his fearlessness and added that he is not afraid to pitch the ball up.

Also Read: Varun Chakravarthy makes rapid gains in T20I Rankings

“It’s happening very often and a second five-wicket haul is crazy in T20 cricket. And I have talked about the reason for it. He pitches the ball up and was not afraid to do it today (Tuesday) as well. He bowled one up to Jamie Smith, who tonked him for a six and then he bowled a little shorter, but he’s always up there, challenging the batters to go at him,” Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo.

Sanjay Manjrekar's predicted India XI for 1st ODI vs England: 

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh.