Former India player turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has backed the selectors’ decision to include leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy in place of Yashasvi Jaiswal in India’s final 15-man Champions Trophy 2025 squad. According to Manjrekar, Chakravarthy’s addition makes sense because he is a wicket-taking bowler, who is currently in great form.

During a discussion on ESPNcricinfo, Manjrekar said: “Varun Chakravarthy will make life difficult for a few teams. He’s just a bowler who is at the top of his game. Not too many people have played him as well. They’ve seen him in T20 cricket. When he’s playing for a strong team, you have the advantage of being in the game and just that psychological advantage.”

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“He has had one exposure in the UAE, playing in the T20 World Cup. I think that’s a wonderful addition and in the right department. India need wicket-taking bowlers. Harshit Rana is one and now you’ve got Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy as well. The two left-arm spinners will get wickets, but mostly they are there to keep the batters quiet,” he again added.

Speaking about the decision to drop opener Yashasvi Jaiswal from India’s final Champions Trophy 2025 squad, Manjrekar added that its fine and also added that the batter will get his chances soon too.

“India feeling very confident with their batting. With Rishabh Pant there and KL Rahul as keeper-batter option, I think there’s enough quality and experience as well. For the moment, Jaiswal could just wait his chance. It won’t be long before he will be opening with somebody like Shubman Gill. That’s fine,” he concluded.