'The biggest name missing is Varun Chakaravarthy' - Aakash Chopra slams selectors for not picking India spinner for Asian Games

Former India opener Aakash Chopra reckoned that Varun Chakaravarthy is the biggest omission in the squad for the 2022 Asian Games. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on July 14 announced a 15-member squad for the Asian Games to be contested at Hangzhou in China, in September-October.

Chopra reckoned that the India selectors have picked a good squad for the continental multi-sport event. However, he opined that star spinner Chakravarthy is the huge miss in the released squad.

"Prima facie if you see this team, you feel they have made a good team. Such type of names could only have been there in this team. Is there any name missing? The biggest name I see missing is Varun Chakaravarthy," Chopra said while speaking in a video on his YouTube channel.

Chopra then praised Chakravarthy, who has had an unforgettable season with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the 2023 Indian Premier League. In 14 matches, he picked up 20 wickets at a decent economy rate of 8.14. Additionally, he has also played for team India in the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai.

"You had played him in the T20 World Cup in Dubai. Then he got dropped quickly but if you see the last IPL, he was one of the finest spinners. He is one name who I expected to be a part of this team but he is not there," Chopra added.

The spinners you have picked, it might not make a huge difference: Chopra

Aakash Chopra went on to say that the level of competition might not be challenging at the Asian Games. The 45-year-old pointed out that Ravi Bishnoi will be key for India, who is the only wrist-spinner in the Asian Games squad. He also said that Washington Sundar and Shahbaz Ahmed, the other two spinners in the squad, can do a decent job at the event.

"The spinners you have picked, it might not make a huge difference, because the level might not be that challenging here, you have Ravi Bishnoi - who is a proper spinner, there is no doubt about that.

"You have Washington Sundar, who gives you overs, although he bowled very few overs for his franchise. He keeps fighting injuries. The third is Shahbaz Ahmed. He played for India as well in between, so it is right if you see from that angle but I feel there could have been a place for Varun Chakaravarthy," Chopra concluded.