No Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma in Varun Chakravarthy’s T20 XI, only three Indians find spots

It is not very often that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli fail to make it into a world T20 XI.. both have retired from the format in international cricket, but continue to play in the IPL. Both the batters have legendary status too, given the heaps of runs they have scored. But while naming his T20 XI, India spinner Varun Chakravarthy left the two out of the team.

In an interview with R Ashwin on the latter’s Youtube Channel, Chakravarthy was also set a condition, that he had to pick only the players he has played with. At the top of the order were Jos Buttler and Travis Head. Suryakumar Yadav came in at No. 3, followed by West Indian Nicholas Pooran at No. 4.

South African Heinrich Klaasen made the cut as the wicket-keeper batter at No. 5, followed by all-rounder Hardik Pandya at No. 6. The next two spots were also reserved for Caribbean players — Andre Russell and Sunil Narine, who are IPL legends, and play with Varun Chakravarthy for KKR. Another spinner in the mix was Rashid Khan. The Indian went on to pick Jasprit Bumrah and Matheesha Pathirana as the two pacers for the team.

It is important to note that VC has been an excellent performer for Team India in the white-ball formats — a late-bloomer. In 18 T20Is, he has picked up 33 wickets, and in ODIs, have bagged 10 wickets.

Varun Chakravarthy’s Dream team: Jos Buttler, Travis Head, Suryakumar Yadav, Nicholas Pooran, Heinrich Klaasen, Hardik Pandya, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Rashid Khan, Jasprit Bumrah, and Matheesha Pathirana.