According to Rohit Sharma, unfamiliar spinner Varun Chakravarthy is an attractive option for India in the Champions Trophy semi-final against Australia. Notably, most of Australia’s top-order batsmen, excluding Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell, have not previously faced Chakravarthy’s bowling.
In his second One Day International, Varun impressed by taking 5 wickets for 42 runs in ten overs against New Zealand. His performance contributed significantly to India’s 44-run victory while defending a total of 249. Despite missing the initial matches against Bangladesh and Pakistan, Varun was selected for the third game, replacing Harshit Rana.
Rohit Sharma stated, “Varun demonstrated his potential, giving us a selection dilemma. His unique bowling style is effective, as seen by his five-wicket haul. It makes him a very tempting option.”
Varun’s diverse bowling variations and unusual action make him challenging for batsmen to read. Of the expected top seven Australian batters, only Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell have encountered him before. Moreover, Smith’s last encounter with Varun was in 2021, and Varun has since evolved his bowling technique.
Rohit Sharma mentioned the team’s strategy, “We are evaluating the Australian batting lineup and determining the most effective bowling strategies against them.”
Varun’s impactful performance against New Zealand included dismissing opener Will Young and crucial wickets of Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell, effectively halting New Zealand’s chase. Impressively, four of his five wickets were either bowled or lbw, emphasizing his aggressive approach towards the stumps.
Rohit Sharma noted Varun’s improved accuracy since his T20I debut for India in 2021, where he was considered somewhat inexperienced. “Over the past few years, Varun has gained considerable experience through domestic cricket, the IPL, and T20Is for India, now extending to ODIs,” Rohit explained.
“He exhibits a strong understanding of his bowling. His unique style is definitely advantageous, as even some of our batsmen find him difficult to face in practice,” added Rohit.
Varun’s inclusion in India’s Champions Trophy squad was unexpected, especially after just one ODI appearance in the preceding series against England. His selection followed a remarkable Vijay Hazare Trophy performance for Tamil Nadu, where he claimed 18 wickets in six innings with an average of 12.16 and an economy rate of 4.36.
Rohit Sharma justified the decision, “We aim to quickly integrate and utilize talented players like Varun. Specific formats demand particular skills, and Varun’s talent was undeniable. We shouldn’t hesitate to include such players.”
He concluded, “While such decisions may raise questions or eyebrows, our priority as a team is to make choices that enhance our chances of winning. It’s that straightforward.”
