Sports

Varun Receives ODI Call-Up for Upcoming Series Against England

Published

1 year ago

February 5, 2025

The BCCI’s senior selection committee announced on Tuesday that mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has been added to the ODI squad ahead of the three-match series against England.

Speculation regarding his inclusion grew after Varun was seen training with the Indian squad at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on Tuesday, preparing for the upcoming series

Lead by Rohit Sharma and featuring star batsman Virat Kohli, the team arrived in Nagpur on Monday, following the conclusion of the T20I series in Mumbai. Although Varun was absent from the squad visuals at the Nagpur airport, his participation in the training session on Tuesday afternoon sparked further speculation regarding his inclusion

According to a BCCI media release, “The Men’s Selection Committee has added Varun Chakaravarthy to India’s squad for the upcoming ODI series against England.”

While he has not yet been officially included in India’s ICC Champions Trophy lineup, Varun’s addition to the ODI side may enhance his chances of being selected for the major tournament, where all matches will be played in Dubai.

Initially, Varun was not included in the provisional squad for the Champions Trophy announced by the BCCI’s senior selection committee. However, with changes permitted until February 12, his performance in the ODI series could influence his selection for the tournament.

The Champions Trophy is set to begin on February 19, and there are concerns regarding star pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness. Bumrah has not played competitively since the Sydney Test and is currently being closely monitored by the board’s medical staff at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

In the event that Bumrah is unable to participate, it is reported that Harshit Rana may be considered as a potential replacement. Furthermore, as Kuldeep Yadav returns from injury and is expected to be the primary spinner, the team management will be eager to assess Varun’s capabilities in the 50-over format.

Varun’s selection comes shortly after former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin suggested the possibility of him making it to the Champions Trophy squad. The Tamil Nadu spinner had a remarkable performance in the recent T20I series where India triumphed 4-1, earning the Player of the Series title by taking 14 wickets, including a five-wicket haul.

“I suspect Varun will get a chance to play in the ODI series against England. However, I don’t believe it’s easy to bring him directly into the Champions Trophy squad as he hasn’t played ODIs. I think they’ll give him a shot in this series,” Ashwin commented on his YouTube channel.

“If they don’t provide him this opportunity, it could complicate matters. But, regardless, I congratulate Varun on winning his first player of the tournament award. He’s currently the standout spinner in T20I cricket, and I wish him continued growth,” he added.

India’s updated squad for the ODI series against England: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy.

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Sports

Tim David Faces Criticism for Obscene Celebration against Mumbai Indians

Published

1 week ago

May 11, 2026

Namma Kudla

IPL 2026 : In a dramatic IPL 2026 clash, Royal Challengers Bengaluru player Tim David has landed in controversy for allegedly making an obscene gesture after his team’s thrilling win against Mumbai Indians.

The incident took place during the 54th match of the Indian Premier League in Raipur. Batting first, Mumbai Indians scored 167 runs in 20 overs and set a competitive target for RCB.

While chasing the target, Royal Challengers Bengaluru needed 15 runs in the final over. The match went down to the last ball, where RCB required two runs for victory. Rasikh Dar helped the team secure a thrilling win in the final delivery.

Soon after the victory, Tim David, who was in the dugout, was seen allegedly showing his middle finger towards the Mumbai Indians camp during the celebrations. The video of the incident quickly went viral on social media and triggered criticism from cricket fans.

Reports suggest that match officials could take disciplinary action against the Australian batter. Under the ICC Code of Conduct, obscene or offensive gestures are considered a serious offence.

Such behaviour usually falls under Level 1 or Level 2 breaches of the ICC rules. Players found guilty can face fines ranging from 50 percent to 100 percent of their match fees. Demerit points may also be added to their disciplinary record. Repeated offences can even lead to suspension from matches.

Similar incidents have happened in the past as well. In 2012, Virat Kohli was fined 50 percent of his match fee for showing the middle finger to spectators during a match in Sydney.

Cricket is widely known as a “gentleman’s game,” and players are expected to maintain discipline and respect on the field. Tim David’s celebration has now sparked debate among fans and experts about sportsmanship in modern cricket.

Sports

Pooran Super over Call Sparks Criticism

Published

3 weeks ago

April 27, 2026

Namma Kudla

Sports: Lucknow Super Giants’ captain Rishabh Pant faced criticism after a failed Super Over decision against Kolkata Knight Riders. LSG sent Nicholas Pooran and Aiden Markram to bat, with Pooran on strike against Sunil Narine.

Pooran was bowled on the first ball, leading to heavy criticism from fans. Many questioned the decision, especially because Narine had earlier troubled Pooran in a past Super Over.

LSG coach Justin Langer defended the move. He said the team trusted Pooran as he has faced Narine many times and has a strong record against him. He added that teams must back their best players even in difficult moments.

Langer also said Pooran is one of the best T20 players in recent years but is currently low on confidence. He assured that the team is working hard to help him regain form

Despite being at the bottom of the table, LSG remains hopeful. Langer said the team will use the break to improve and aim to win their remaining matches.

Sports

King Kohli Creates Two Records in One Match

Published

3 weeks ago

April 25, 2026

Namma Kudla

Bengaluru: Virat Kohli made history in a match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium against Gujarat Titans. He achieved two big records in a single game.

Kohli became the first player in Indian Premier League history to hit 800 boundaries. He now has 807 fours. Shikhar Dhawan is second with 768, followed by David Warner and Rohit Sharma.

He also became the third player to hit 300 sixes in IPL. He reached this mark with his first six in the match. Chris Gayle leads with 357 sixes, while Rohit Sharma has 310.