India captain Rohit Sharma stated that while he has not committed to a four-spinner strategy for the Champions Trophy semifinal against Australia, Varun Chakravarthy’s impressive performance against New Zealand has made it an appealing option. Chakravarthy took 5/42 in that match, prompting Rohit to consider the right bowling combination based on conditions and the Australian batting lineup. He praised Chakravarthy for his improved accuracy and pace variations since 2021. Rohit also emphasized the importance of the middle order, which contributed significantly against New Zealand, and acknowledged Axar Patel’s growth after being promoted to No. 5 in the batting order.
India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, refrained from confirming whether the team would adopt the four-spinner strategy during the Champions Trophy semifinal against Australia. However, he acknowledged that Varun Chakravarthy’s remarkable performance against New Zealand has made this option quite “tempting.” In the recent match, India utilized Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel, who collectively took nine wickets, leading to a 44-run victory over New Zealand. “We really need to think about how we can incorporate four spinners. The reason I mention this is that we are very much aware of the conditions here and know precisely what works and what doesn’t,” Rohit explained in his pre-match press briefing.
“So, we will evaluate what the ideal combination is, but it is indeed tempting,” he added.
Chakravarthy, who replaced the rested pacer Harshit Rana, excelled with impressive figures of 5/42. Rohit confirmed that the spinner is a key consideration for the team management.
“He has demonstrated his capabilities. Now, it’s up to us to strategize and determine how to find the right combination. He took the opportunity and fulfilled all expectations,” Rohit noted.
“He has a unique quality, and when he’s on point, he takes wickets in bunches. It’s very tempting to consider what direction to take, which is a nice dilemma to have. We will also assess the Australian batting lineup to find suitable bowling options against them,” he elaborated.
Rohit praises Chakravarthy
Chakravarthy’s stellar performance against the Kiwis also helped him erase the memories of his less-than-stellar outing against Pakistan during the 2021 T20 World Cup held at this venue.
Rohit discussed the advancements Chakravarthy has made since then.
“He is now much more accurate compared to his last participation with India in 2021. At that time, he displayed some inexperience due to limited playing time,” he pointed out.
“However, over the past two or three years, he has played extensively in domestic cricket, the IPL, and has now represented India in T20s and ODIs as well. He understands his bowling much better now,” he added.
The Mumbai captain remarked that Chakravarthy has diligently worked on his craft, resulting in consistent wicket-taking.
“Interestingly, some of our batters struggled with his variations, which is always a good sign. His pace variation has improved significantly. A bowler should avoid being one-dimensional—having a variety of speeds is essential,” he stated.
“You need to bring something unique, along with pace variation and accuracy. He has enhanced both aspects, and his ability to take wickets is reassuring for the team,” he explained.
Including Chakravarthy in India’s CT squad while leaving out players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Mohammed Siraj raised eyebrows.
Rohit justified the selection by emphasizing raw talent.
“It all comes down to talent. If a particular player possesses something truly special, it makes sense to fast-track him. Different formats require specific skill sets, and we are eager to introduce such talented players,” he affirmed, downplaying the criticism regarding the predominance of spinners in the lineup.
“Questions will naturally arise, and some may raise their eyebrows, but as a team, you must make choices that enhance your chances of winning. Understanding talent is critical, and I have been around long enough to identify talented players,” he noted.
“With Varun specifically, we had to forgo a batsman, but we felt that since it’s just five matches in this tournament, it’s improbable that the extra batter would feature unless there’s an injury.”
‘Middle-order performed well’
Despite India’s top three—Rohit, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill—facing challenges against New Zealand, leaving the team in a precarious situation at 30 for three, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, and Hardik Pandya stepped up to secure a defendable total.
Rohit emphasized the importance of middle-order runs during the tournament’s critical stages.
“Our middle-order is quite seasoned, but getting those crucial runs in the middle and setting up a fighting total was vital from our perspective,” he explained.
“Shreyas, KL, Hardik, and Axar batted magnificently, which bodes well for us heading into the semifinals, as we wanted situations that put us under slight pressure, with the middle order guiding us to the target, which they did,” he stated.
‘Axar’s growth is impressive’
Rohit also commended Axar for justifying the team’s belief in him by batting at No. 5, ahead of KL Rahul.
“We communicated clearly to him from the beginning of the ODI series against England that he would bat at No. 5, without exception. The improvement he has shown with the bat over the last year has been remarkable, and we feel it’s effective to utilize him in the middle order,” he remarked.
“He is eager to take charge and express his batting style, which is crucial, especially during challenging situations. He showcased this in the T20 World Cup final (2024) with a pivotal innings,” he concluded.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Topics mentioned in this article