Sports Bulletin on February 4: Varun Chakravarthy to make ODI debut vs England, Suryakumar Yadav returns to Ranji Trophy

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In today's sports bulletin (February 4), India's squad for the England ODI series sees a fresh inclusion, while Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy campaign gets a timely boost with two returning stars.

In football, Cristiano Ronaldo delivers a masterclass in the AFC Champions League, while Manchester United suffer a major injury setback. Meanwhile, Dhinidhi Desinghu continues her golden run at the National Games.

Varun Chakravarthy Earns Maiden ODI Call-Up for England Series

Varun Chakravarthy has been included in India's ODI squad for the three-match series against England, marking his first-ever 50-over call-up. The leg-spinner, who topped the wicket charts in India’s 4-1 T20I series win with 14 wickets at 9.86, strengthens an already spin-heavy attack featuring Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar. While BCCI hasn’t officially announced his selection, his inclusion gains significance with India set to play their only ODI series before the Champions Trophy. India face England in Nagpur, Cuttack, and Ahmedabad from February 6-12.

Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube Boost Mumbai Ahead of Ranji Trophy Quarterfinals

Mumbai has been strengthened ahead of their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal against Haryana, with Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube joining the squad. Both players recently featured in India’s T20I series against England and will add depth to the defending champions. Mumbai, led by Ajinkya Rahane, secured their knockout spot after finishing second in Elite Group A with 29 points. Suryakumar aims to regain form after a poor T20I series, while Dube, who impressed against England, seeks redemption following a disappointing domestic outing. The match runs from February 8-12 in Lahli.

Cristiano Ronaldo's Brace Powers Al Nassr to 4-0 Win Over Al Wasl in AFC Champions League

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Al Nassr cruised to a 4-0 victory over Al Wasl in their AFC Champions League Elite group clash. Ali Al-Hassan opened the scoring with a stunning strike before Ronaldo doubled the lead from the penalty spot just before halftime. The Portuguese star added his second in the 78th minute, heading in a cross from Sadio Mane. Mohammed Al-Fatil sealed the win late on. Despite the dominant display, Al Nassr remains third in the group with 16 points from seven matches.

Manchester United Suffer Major Blow as Lisandro Martinez Faces Season-Ending ACL Injury

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez is expected to miss the rest of the season after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee during Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace. The Argentine was stretchered off in visible distress, with reports suggesting a six-month recovery period. United boss Ruben Amorim described the situation as "serious" and emphasized Martinez’s leadership role. With 14 Premier League games remaining, United may rely on Luke Shaw’s return or fast-track new signing Ayden Heaven to cover defensive gaps.

Dhinidhi Desinghu Wins Ninth Medal at National Games, Smashes 400m Freestyle Record

Karnataka’s 14-year-old swimming sensation Dhinidhi Desinghu secured her ninth medal at the 38th National Games in Uttarakhand, clinching gold in the women’s 400m freestyle with a national record time of 4:24.60. She also played a key role in the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay, winning another gold. Desinghu’s tally includes five golds, a silver, and a bronze. Meanwhile, Punjab’s Sift Kaur Samra triumphed in the Women’s 50m 3 Position shooting event with 461.2 points, outpacing Anjum Moudgil (silver) and Surabhi Bhardwaj Rapole (bronze).