In India’s last Champions Trophy group match against New Zealand, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy’s selection proved crucial as he took 5 wickets for 42 runs, leading India to a 44-run victory. Skipper Rohit Sharma praised Chakravarthy’s unique bowling style, affirming it made game preparation challenging. With this win, India topped Group A and advanced to face Australia in the semifinals. Rohit highlighted the importance of maintaining winning momentum in the tournament. Chakravarthy, who learned of his inclusion just before the match, expressed initial nerves but received support from teammates. New Zealand’s captain noted India’s spinners effectively exploited the pitch conditions.
Champions Trophy 2025: Varun Chakravarthy celebrates with his Indian cricket teammates.© AFP
The intriguing factor surrounding mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy’s bowling played a crucial role in his selection for India’s final group match in the Champions Trophy against New Zealand in Dubai, according to skipper Rohit Sharma, who praised the decision as a brilliant move. Chakravarthy backed up his inclusion in the playing XI with remarkable figures of 5/42 in 10 overs, enabling India to secure a convincing 44-run victory and finish atop Group A, along with the Kiwis, who placed second. “He has a unique edge to his game, so we wanted to see what he could bring to the table. We now have to consider our strategy for the next game; it’s a nice dilemma to have. If he finds his rhythm, he becomes quite challenging to decipher,” Rohit stated during the presentation ceremony.
India is set to face Australia in the first semifinal on Tuesday, while New Zealand will compete against South Africa the next day in Lahore.
“It promises to be an exciting matchup. Australia has a storied history of performing well in ICC tournaments, but it ultimately comes down to us and how we execute our plans on that particular day. It’s going to be a thrilling contest, and I’m looking forward to it. Hopefully, we can turn the game in our favor.”
Rohit emphasized the importance of sustaining their winning momentum in such a condensed tournament like the Champions Trophy.
“It’s crucial to aim for victory in every match and to get everything right in a short tournament. Rapidly addressing mistakes is key, as it helps us gauge whether our team is improving or declining.”
“Finishing on a high note is vital. We played exceptionally well. After being 30/3, building a partnership was essential, and I believe we managed to set a commendable total.” Player of the Match Chakravarthy shared that he learned on Saturday night he would be participating in the match.
“I felt a bit nervous initially. I haven’t played many ODIs for India, but I gained confidence as the game progressed. Virat, Rohit, Shreyas, and Hardik encouraged me, which helped a lot,” Chakravarthy remarked.
“I found out just last night that I would be in the lineup. Although it wasn’t a pitch with a lot of turn, bowling in the right areas provided some assistance.” New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner noted that the pitch offered more turn when they batted, and India’s four quality spinners capitalized on it effectively.
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