Navjot Singh Sidhu wants India to play Varun Chakravarthy in England Test series

Former Indian opener Navjot Singh Sidhu has urged Indian selectors to pick Varun Chakravarthy for the England Test series. Chakravarthy was the star of the show for India in the recently concluded Champions Trophy as he scalped nine wickets in three matches at an impressive average of 15.17. 

The 33-year-old spinner returned with figures of 5-42 against New Zealand in the group stage and also took two wickets in the final against the Kiwis.

The mystery spinner had bagged 14 wickets in five T20Is against England at an average of 9.86 and thus he was added to India’s Champions Trophy squad in place of Yashasvi Jaiswal. 

Meanwhile, Chakravarthy is yet to make his Test debut. The spinner has played only one first-class match in which he has taken a solitary wicket for Tamil Nadu. Sidhu reckons mystery spinners are England’s weakness.

“Mystery spinners are England’s weakness. It’s a swollen nerve for England. Will you leave out Varun Chakravarthy? No, you will have to play him. Or you will play Kuldeep Yadav with his high-end deliveries from both ends, they can’t read him,” Sidhu said on Sports Tak.

Chakravarthy has all the variations under his belt and he would look to be at his best in the upcoming IPL 2025 for Kolkata Knight Riders. The wrist spinner bagged 21 wickets in 15 matches of IPL 2024 and played a key role in taking the franchise to glory in the previous edition.

KKR will begin their IPL title defence against RCB at Eden Gardens on March 22.

On the other hand, the opening Test between England and India will be played at the Headingley, Leeds from June 20 onwards.