Varun Chakravarthy made a strong impact in India’s final group-stage match of the Champions Trophy, replacing Harshit Rana and delivering a performance that complicates India’s selection for the semi-final against Australia. Playing only his second ODI, Varun took 5 for 42, leading India to a 44-run win over New Zealand in Dubai.
Former India legspinner Anil Kumble praised Varun’s “exceptional” performance, highlighting his match-winning consistency over the past year for Tamil Nadu, KKR, and India in T20Is. Speaking on ESPNcricinfo Match Day, Kumble noted that Varun’s success in Dubai strengthens India’s prospects for the semi-final and potentially the final.
“If India continues playing on similar pitches, this four-pronged spin attack will pose a serious challenge for any team,” Kumble said. “Australia will find it tough to handle these spinners.”
Defending a target of 250, Varun made an immediate impact by bowling Will Young early. He then returned in the middle overs to take key wickets of Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell in consecutive overs. Later, he dismissed Mitchell Santner, who was batting aggressively, before removing Matt Henry to complete his five-wicket haul. India sealed the win in the next over.
Varun’s only previous ODI appearance was against England before the Champions Trophy, where he took 1 for 52. After the match, he admitted feeling nervous at the start but credited the team’s senior players for helping him settle.
“I found out last night that I was playing,” Varun said. “Virat and Rohit bhai kept talking to me, which helped me stay calm as the game progressed.”
Leave a Reply