Varun Chakravarthy delivered a match-winning performance on his Champions Trophy debut against New Zealand on Sunday, leaving India with a “happy headache” ahead of the tournament’s knockout stages, the Known as a ‘mystery spinner’ for his diverse range of deliveries, including off-breaks, leg-breaks, googlies, and the carrom ball, Chakravarthy’s skillset was on full display as he took 5 wickets for 42 runs, securing a 44-run victory for India.
Despite his impressive performance in India’s recent 4-1 T20 series win over England, Chakravarthy had been sidelined in the Champions Trophy, behind Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja in the spin pecking order. However, with India already having secured their semi-final berth, they made the decision to replace seamer Harshit Rana with Chakravarthy.
India’s captain Rohit Sharma praised Chakravarthy’s unique abilities, stating, “He has got something different about him, there’s no doubt about it. We just wanted to try and see what he can offer, and we saw he has a lot to offer.” With India topping Group A with three consecutive wins, they are now set to face Australia in the first semi-final on Tuesday. However, Rohit appeared uncertain about the spin attack composition for the match, acknowledging the challenge of selecting the best combination. “It’s a good headache to have,” he said, adding that if Chakravarthy finds his rhythm, he is tough to read.
Meanwhile, New Zealand’s captain Mitchell Santner noted that the slow pitch in Dubai caught his team off guard. Looking ahead to the second semi-final against South Africa in Lahore, Santner anticipated more influence from pacers on the faster wickets. “Matt Henry will be massive in Lahore,” Santner said, referencing the pace spearhead who claimed 5 wickets for 42 runs against India. He added that South Africa’s strong pace attack would also play a crucial role, and the nature of the pitch—whether fresh or used—would determine the match dynamics.
