New Delhi

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has shared his thoughts on India's potential playing XI for Sunday’s much-anticipated Champions Trophy match against Pakistan, recommending that skipper Rohit Sharma utilise Varun Chakravarthy as a mystery spinner to outsmart the arch-rivals.

India, who won the 2013 edition of the Champions Trophy, head into Sunday’s game after a comfortable victory over Bangladesh. In contrast, Pakistan, the defending champions who triumphed in 2017, will be under pressure following a 60-run defeat to New Zealand in their opening match in Karachi.

When asked about any potential changes India should make for the high-stakes clash, Manjrekar suggested that while India ticked many boxes in their win against Bangladesh, the only possible change would be the introduction of Chakravarthy as a mystery spinner.

“I think India were pretty good, they ticked most of the boxes. I don’t see them making any changes unless the pitch is drastically different from the last one. The only change that could happen is to try Varun Chakravarthy against Pakistan, as they would not have seen him since the T20 clash in Abu Dhabi,” Manjrekar told IANS during the Star Sports Press Room programme.

Chakravarthy was part of the Indian squad that lost to Pakistan in the 2021 T20 World Cup group stage, though that was the only time he faced them. With Kuldeep Yadav absent from the squad for several months due to hernia surgery, he may need more game time to be ready for the knockout stages. Yadav has recently returned for the ODI series against England.

“I think Kuldeep Yadav needs a little more game time, so they might continue with him. KL Rahul also got some runs, so if anyone was thinking of a new wicketkeeper-batter coming in, that may also not happen,” Manjrekar added.

ALSO READ: Scientist Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar's wife was behind his famous Urdu poetry collection

Chakravarthy made his ODI debut against England in Cuttack, where he took 1-54. He boasts an impressive List A record, having claimed 60 wickets in 24 matches at an average of 14.8. Chakravarthy, the joint second-highest wicket-taker in the recent Vijay Hazare Trophy with 18 wickets, was included in the Champions Trophy squad at the last minute, replacing Yashasvi Jaiswal. However, he was not called upon in the opening match, with Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja being used ahead of him.

Yadav was unable to contribute to any of the ten Bangladesh wickets that fell in the opening game, finishing with figures of 0-43 in his ten-over spell.