India captain Rohit Sharma today addressed two crucial squad matters ahead of the England ODI series, brushing aside concerns over Hardik Pandya's fitness while opening the door for Varun Chakravarthy's potential Champions Trophy inclusion. Question on Hardik Pandya's fitness concerns When questioned about contingency plans should Pandya face injury issues similar to the 2023 World Cup, Rohit urged focus on the present rather than hypotheticals. "Why are we thinking about the negatives? In the minds of the selectors, there are things in our minds. I can't say that here," Rohit said at the pre-match press conference. World Cup experience The India captain referenced India's resilience during the 2023 World Cup, stating: "We played the World Cup when he got injured in the 3rd or 4th match. After that, we played the whole tournament. Although we lost the final, we played good cricket till the final." Pandya's journey The all-rounder has not featured in ODIs since sustaining an ankle injury against Bangladesh during the 2023 World Cup. However, his successful return through IPL and subsequent contribution to India's T20 World Cup victory demonstrates his recovery trajectory. Varun Chakravarthy's rising stock Discussing Chakravarthy's potential ODI debut, the Indian skipper offered significant encouragement. "He has certainly shown something different. Though it's T20 format, he has clearly got something different about him," the captain noted, adding that the England series presents "an opportunity to play him at some stage and see what he is capable of." Impressive T20 credentials The 33-year-old spinner's recent performance in the T20I series against England, where he claimed 14 wickets including a five-wicket haul—the highest by an Indian bowler in a bilateral T20I series—has strengthened his case. His extended training session at VCA Stadium on Tuesday (February 4), bowling for over an hour against Indian batters, further indicates serious consideration for selection. Selection timeline With the Champions Trophy squad deadline set for February 12, Chakravarthy could potentially replace one of the four spinners—Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar or Kuldeep Yadav—currently named in the provisional squad. "If things plan out really well for us and he does what is required then definitely there is something that we need to think about," Rohit stated. Immediate focus The three-match ODI series against England, beginning tomorrow at the VCA Stadium, serves as a crucial platform for both team composition and Champions Trophy preparation.Original Article