"I want to see him in the team" - Harbhajan Singh backs Mumbai Indians star for a spot in India's Champions Trophy 2025 squad

Former spinner Harbhajan Singh has backed Mumbai Indians star Tilak Varma for a spot in India's squad for the upcoming 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. The cricketer-turned-commentator lauded Varma for his back-to-back centuries while playing at No. 3 for the Men in Blue during the T20I series in South Africa.

Notably, the 22-year-old smashed 107* and 120* in the two games. Overall, the youngster has amassed 616 runs in 20 T20Is (19 innings), averaging 51.33.

The left-handed batter has also been impressive with the bat for Hyderabad in the ongoing 2025 Vijay Hazar Trophy, scoring 99 and 57 against Karnataka and Saurashtra, respectively. He, however, has managed just 68 runs in four ODIs at an average of 22.66, including a solitary half-century.

Harbhajan Singh said on his YouTube channel:

"Tilak Varma, he recently played T20Is against South Africa. He looked attacking with the bat. He showed his talent. So, I want to see him in the team."

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“Yes, I have not kept Ravindra Jadeja” – Harbhajan Singh picks Axar Patel over CSK star all-rounder in his squad for ICC 2025 ICC Champions Trophy

Harbhajan Singh, meanwhile, has left out Ravindra Jadeja for Axar Patel in his India squad for the ICC 2025 Champions Trophy. The 44-year-old said in the same video (shared above):

“Axar Patel at No. 7. Yes, I have not kept Ravindra Jadeja. I think Axar Patel is ready to fulfil the role that Jadeja has done over a long period of time for India.”

Jadeja was rested for the three-match ODI series in Sri Lanka last year. The left-handed batter had scored 120 runs in five innings at an average of 40 in the 2023 ODI World Cup.

With the ball, the left-arm spinner picked up 16 wickets in 11 games at an economy rate of 4.25. The 36-year-old has 220 wickets and 2756 runs in 197 ODIs.

Meanwhile, Axar bagged four wickets and scored 79 runs in three outings during the three-match ODI series in Sri Lanka.

Overall, the 30-year-old has bagged 64 wickets in 60 ODIs at an economy rate of 4.49. Like Jadeja, he is equally handy with the ball, scoring 568 runs in 39 innings, comprising two half-centuries.

Harbhajan Singh's India squad for 2025 ICC Champions Trophy:

Rohit Sharma ©, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson/ Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shubman Gill and Yuzvendra Chahal.