Former India batter Mohammad Kaif backed the inclusion of 2025 Champions Trophy star Varun Chakaravarthy in the ODI team after the loss against New Zealand. The Kiwis beat India 2-1 in the three-match series.
Mohammad Kaif expressed India’s dire need for a wicket-taking bowler alongside Kuldeep Yadav. He reckoned that Varun could be the option as he has proven himself in white-ball cricket and has been a consistent performer in T20Is.
“I feel somewhere, Varun’s name will be there in that 2027 World Cup squad. He is a wicket-taking bowler. Kuldeep may have a bad day. But Varun has had bad days very rarely. He can find a place in the squad, and it can be a good combination. He has proved himself in white-ball. He should play in the ODI team as well. It is time. Your bowling is weak. Put him in the XI. You need someone who can take wickets,” he said on his YouTube channel.
Varun Chakaravarthy bagged nine wickets from three matches in the 2025 Champions Trophy. He has played only four ODIs so far and has 10 wickets. However, he has played 29 List A matches and has picked up 75 wickets at an average of 14.29 and an economy rate of 4.24.
Mohammad Kaif expects changes to India’s ODI squad for 2027 World Cup
Mohammad Kaif reckoned that there would be a few changes in India’s squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup. While he felt that the top five batters are set, there is a need for another proper batter.
Despite having scored a fifty in the third ODI, Mohammad Kaif felt that Nitish Kumar Reddy is still not a proper all-rounder as he does not bowl enough. He also added that while Harshit Rana scored a half-century too, his primary role remains that of a bowler.
The former cricketer expressed that India needed six proper batters along with two solid all-rounders to win the World Cup.
“There will be changes in this ODI team for the World Cup. The top five are set. Others are all bowlers or half all-rounders. I still dont see Reddy as an all-rounder. He is still way too behind in bowling. There are only five proper batters. You need at least six. You cannot win the World Cup with five batters and half all-rounders. We need six, two proper all-rounders, and then bowlers. Harshit’s job is not to bat. He did well, that is a different thing. But can he keep doing it?,” he said.
Further, Mohammad Kaif also raised questions regarding Prasidh Krishna and Arshdeep Singh.
“Is Prasidh Krishna such a big bowler that he is ahead of Shami or even Bumrah? That question mark will be there. Why is Arshdeep not playing regularly? That is also a question that will be there.”
Prasidh has picked up 40 wickets from 23 ODIs but has been expensive, going at an economy rate of 6.02. Arshdeep did not get an opportunity in the first two games against New Zealand and played only the final ODI.
Edited by Rishab Vm
