Varun Chakravarthy has been handed his One Day International (ODI) debut for India against England today (February 9, 2025) at the Baramati Stadium in Cuttack.

At 33 years and 164 days old, he became India's second-oldest ODI debutant, following Farokh Engineer, who debuted at 36 years and 138 days in 1974.

Notably, Chakravarthy is the only Indian player to make his ODI debut at the age of 32 or older in the 21st century, and the only other player to make debut over 30 years in the current century is Faiz Fazal.

Leading up to his ODI debut, Chakravarthy delivered a series of impressive performances in the T20I series against England.

Over five matches, he emerged as the Player of the Series, claiming 14 wickets and playing a pivotal role in India's 4-1 series victory.

India's captain, Rohit Sharma, expressed confidence in Chakravarthy's unique skills, stating that the bowler had "shown something different" and possessed a "unique quality" that warranted his inclusion in the ODI setup.

Varun Chakravarthy breaks Myth

Chakravarthy's journey to international cricket is nothing short of inspiring. An architect by profession, he transitioned to professional cricket in his mid-20s, a move that defied conventional norms in the sport.

His journey serves as a testament to the fact that determination and skill can break age-old myths in sports. His late bloom in international cricket has added quality in India's bowling options and inspires countless aspiring cricketers to pursue their dreams, regardless of age.

The Indian spinner recently returned to the international side after a gap of three years, and since then, he has been outstanding. He has excelled across conditions and has made a name for himself in the 20-over format.

Although the jersey colour remains the same, ODI cricket is set to bring a different challenge. It is to be seen how Chakravarthy adjusts to the format and imposes himself in the 50-over format.