India captain Rohit Sharma indicated that playing four spinners in the Champions Trophy semifinal against Australia is a very real possibility. This consideration comes after Varun Chakravarthy’s impressive performance against New Zealand, which has made the option “tempting.” In their recent match, India deployed Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel, and this spin quartet proved highly effective against the Kiwis, taking nine wickets and contributing significantly to India’s 44-run victory.
“We really need to consider if we want to utilize four spinners and how to best incorporate them. We are well aware of the local conditions and what strategies tend to succeed here,” Rohit stated during the pre-match press conference.
“So, we are evaluating the optimal team composition, and the four-spinner strategy is definitely appealing,” he added.
Chakravarthy, who stepped in for the rested fast bowler Harshit Rana, delivered an outstanding performance with figures of 5/42. Rohit acknowledged that Chakravarthy is now firmly in the team management’s plans.
“He demonstrated his capabilities. Now, we need to figure out the ideal combination. He was given an opportunity and executed everything asked of him,” Rohit commented.
“He brings a unique dimension to our bowling attack, and when he performs well, he can dismantle opposition lineups, as seen by his five-wicket haul. It’s a positive dilemma for us to consider our options. We will also analyze the Australian batting lineup to determine the most effective bowling strategies against them,” he elaborated.
Rohit Praises Chakravarthy’s Progress
Chakravarthy’s strong performance against New Zealand helped him overcome the memory of a less effective outing against Pakistan at the same venue during the 2021 T20 World Cup.
Rohit highlighted Chakravarthy’s development over time.
“He has become more consistent since he last played for India in 2021. Back then, his relative inexperience was a factor as he hadn’t played much international cricket,” Rohit explained.
“However, in the past couple of years, he has gained extensive experience in domestic cricket, the IPL, and now in T20s and ODIs for India. He now has a much better understanding of his bowling,” he noted.
Rohit mentioned that Chakravarthy’s dedicated efforts to refine his skills are now evident in his wicket-taking ability.
“Even some of our own batsmen find his variations difficult to read, which is always a good sign. His changes of pace are now excellent. When you have an element of mystery, it’s crucial not to be predictable with your bowling speed,” Rohit said.
“You need variety, pace changes, and accuracy. He has worked on these aspects, and we are now seeing the rewards in terms of wickets, which is beneficial for the team,” he concluded.
The inclusion of Chakravarthy in India’s Champions Trophy squad, ahead of players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Mohammed Siraj, had sparked some debate.
Rohit defended the decision.
“It’s about recognizing exceptional talent. Certain formats demand specific skill sets, and if a player possesses a unique talent, we are willing to fast-track their development. While there might be questions and raised eyebrows about selecting more spinners, our priority is to make decisions that enhance our chances of winning. It’s about understanding talent, and I’ve been around long enough to recognize it. With Varun, we had to sacrifice a batsman, reasoning that with only five games in this tournament, it’s unlikely that the extra batter would get much playing time unless there was an injury,” Rohit clarified.
‘Middle-order Performed Well’
India’s top order, consisting of Rohit, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill, had a rare off day against New Zealand, leaving the team at 30 for three. However, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, and Hardik Pandya responded strongly to guide India to a competitive total.
Rohit emphasized the importance of the middle order contributing runs, particularly as the tournament progresses to the crucial stages.
“Our middle order is experienced, but it was vital for them to spend time at the crease, score runs, and construct a fighting total. Shreyas, KL Rahul, Hardik, and Axar all batted exceptionally well, which is a positive sign heading into the semifinals. We needed to navigate pressure situations, and the middle order successfully steered us to a defendable score,” he said.
‘Axar’s Improvement is Outstanding’
Rohit also lauded Axar Patel for justifying the team management’s confidence in him by promoting him to No. 5, ahead of KL Rahul.
“We clearly communicated to him at the start of the ODI series against England that he would bat at No. 5, regardless of the situation. His batting improvement over the past year has been remarkable, and that’s why we felt we could utilize him in that middle-order role,” Rohit explained.
“He enjoys taking on the game and playing his shots. In challenging situations, it’s beneficial to adopt a positive approach. He demonstrated this in the T20 World Cup final (2024) with a very crucial innings,” he concluded.
