Gambhir’s want for Chakravarthy or Rohit’s backing of Kuldeep—who will win tussle for a spot vs Bangladesh?

With India set to face Bangladesh in their ICC Champions Trophy opener in Dubai on February 20, one major selection dilemma looms over the team—who will be the specialist spinner in the playing XI? While most of the lineup is set, the battle between Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav for the final spot is up for a debate. Interestingly, there are possibly clash of opinions within the Indian team itself, with Gautam Gambhir inclining towards Varun Chakravarthy and Rohit Sharma preferring his X-factor bowler Kuldeep Yadav.

The Rohit vs Gambhir Selection Debate

In Indian cricket, Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir’s opposing beliefs have frequently come up. Despite having the same objective, the two frequently disagree on strategy and choice. The main topic of discussion this time is who India should choose as their strike spinner when playing Bangladesh. While the position for Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja are locked in, what about the frontline tweaker?

Reports suggest that Rohit Sharma is inclined to go with Kuldeep Yadav, his trusted lieutenant in the last two ICC tournaments. Kuldeep played a pivotal role in India’s campaigns during the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup, taking 15 wickets in 11 matches and 10 wickets in five games, respectively. The left-arm wrist-spinner has delivered for India on slow and sluggish pitches and has experience playing in pressure situations.

On the other hand, Gautam Gambhir is pushing for Varun Chakravarthy. The mystery spinner, who wasn’t even in the original squad, was drafted in after India opted for an extra bowling option following Jasprit Bumrah’s injury. Chakravarthy has been in phenomenal form, taking 31 wickets in T20Is at an outstanding average of 11.25 and a strike rate of 8.9 since his return to international cricket. His variations are too difficult to handle for the batters sometimes, with Chakravarthy reinventing himself.

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Kuldeep’s proven track record vs Varun’s X-Factor

Statistically, Kuldeep Yadav is a more proven asset in ICC events. His variations, ability to extract turn, and deceptive pace make him a lethal weapon in the middle overs. However, ever since he has returned from surgery, Kuldeep is yet to find his groove. Having missed almost three months of game time due to a hernia surgery, Kuldeep played two ODIs against England, returning figures of 1/53 and 1/38. While he showed signs of regaining rhythm, he wasn’t at his best.

Varun Chakravarthy, meanwhile, has been a revelation. His ability to bowl carrom balls, off-breaks, and leg-breaks in the same spell makes him a nightmare for batters. Moreover, Gambhir’s backing for Varun stems from their history in the IPL, where the spinner played under him at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). However, his ODI experience is limited, with just one game where he finished with figures of 1/54 against England.

The Dubai Factor: Conditions and match-ups to consider

Dubai’s pitches have traditionally assisted spinners, but not all spinners thrive there. Kuldeep has a strong ICC tournament record and has delivered under pressure, but Varun’s ability to bamboozle batters with his variations could be an asset against Bangladesh’s lineup, which has struggled against mystery spin in the past.

Another key factor is the presence of Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja, who will likely handle India’s spin all-rounder duties. If India wants an attacking spinner, Kuldeep’s ability to consistently pick wickets might edge out Varun’s enigmatic skills. However, there will be three left-arm spinners if Kuldeep gets the nod.

Stats for Kuldeep Yadav & Varun Chakravarthy since 2023