India is considering deploying a four-pronged spin attack for their Champions Trophy semi-final clash against Australia in Dubai on Tuesday. This comes after Varun Chakravarthy impressed in the last group stage match, fulfilling all expectations, according to Rohit Sharma.
In just his second ODI appearance, Varun showcased his talent by taking 5 wickets for 42 runs in ten overs against New Zealand. His performance played a key role in India’s successful defense of a 249-run total, winning by 44 runs. He was brought into the team for the third group game, replacing Harshit Rana, after missing the initial matches against Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Rohit Sharma commented on Varun’s performance, stating, “He just demonstrated his capabilities. It now falls to us to strategize and determine the optimal team combination. He executed everything asked of him… he possesses a distinctive quality. When he performs accurately, he can overwhelm batsmen and secure wickets, as evidenced by his five-wicket haul. He is definitely a tempting option.”
Varun’s bowling style, characterized by variations and an unorthodox action, makes him difficult for batsmen to read. Notably, within Australia’s likely top seven batsmen, only Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell have previously faced him. Furthermore, Steven Smith’s last encounter with Varun was in 2021, and Varun has since evolved and refined his bowling technique.
Rohit Sharma further explained the team’s approach, “We need to analyze the anticipated Australian batting lineup and evaluate the most effective bowling strategies against them.”
After dismissing New Zealand’s opening batsman Will Young, Varun effectively dismantled New Zealand’s chase by taking the wickets of Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell in the 35th and 38th overs respectively. Impressively, four out of his five wickets were either bowled or lbw, highlighting his aggressive approach towards attacking the stumps.
Rohit Sharma noted Varun’s growth, stating, “I believe he has become more precise in his bowling.” He also mentioned Varun’s relative inexperience when he debuted for India in T20Is in 2021. “However, over the past two to three years, he has accumulated significant playing experience in domestic cricket, the IPL, and for India in T20s, and now in ODIs.”
“He now has a strong understanding of his bowling. There’s definitely something unique about his bowling that he leverages to his advantage. Even some of our own batsmen find him challenging to decipher, which is a positive sign,” Rohit added.
Varun’s inclusion in India’s Champions Trophy squad was a surprise and came late, especially considering he had only played one ODI in the preceding home series against England. His selection was largely influenced by his standout performance for Tamil Nadu in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he claimed 18 wickets in six innings with an impressive average of 12.16 and an economy rate of 4.36.
Regarding Varun’s selection, Rohit Sharma stated, “You want to expedite the process of integrating such players and give them opportunities. Certain formats demand specific skill sets. We believe that if the talent is evident, as it is with Varun, we shouldn’t hesitate to include them.”
“There will be questions and raised eyebrows, but as a team, our priority is to make decisions that enhance our chances of winning. It’s as straightforward as that,” Rohit concluded.
