New Delhi, March 7 (NationPress) Former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull believes that India has no justification for opting out Varun Chakravarthy in favor of Kuldeep Yadav for the Men's T20 World Cup final scheduled in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Doull asserts that the skilled wrist-spinner remains resilient and not vulnerable, despite his expensive performances since the Super Eights stage.

Chakravarthy, currently the top-ranked T20I bowler, was a key performer for India during the group stage, claiming nine wickets in just four matches with an economy rate of 5.2. However, his performance has raised concerns in the Super Eights, where he has managed only four wickets in four games, with his economy rate soaring to 11.6.

In the semifinal against England at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Chakravarthy recorded figures of 1-64, marking his most expensive T20I spell and tying for the second most costly in the tournament's history. Furthermore, eight of his eleven most expensive T20I spells occurred after December 2025.

"No, I don't believe Varun Chakravarthy is vulnerable at all. He is an exceptionally talented bowler, and while teams can analyze countless videos, they still need to execute under pressure during live matches," Doull stated.

"I don't see any rationale for India to replace Varun Chakravarthy with Kuldeep, despite Kuldeep's caliber being such that he would likely play for almost any other team in the competition. But in this context, I don't foresee India making that switch," he added.

Reflecting on the series against New Zealand, Doull noted that there were instances where Kuldeep faced challenges. "I just don't think they will change their strategy, and I still believe Varun Chakravarthy is not easy to read, even if some players have managed to score against him. He likely will and should play," Doull concluded in an exclusive interview with IANS ahead of the final.

Similarly, uncertainties are surrounding left-handed opener Abhishek Sharma's form. Suffering from a stomach infection early in the tournament, Abhishek has struggled to find his rhythm, while his partner Sanju Samson has been in remarkable form, scoring impressive fifties against West Indies and England.

Abhishek has accumulated only 89 runs in seven innings at an average of 12.7, with off-spinners proving particularly effective against him—he has scored a mere 29 runs in five innings against them and has been dismissed three times.

In contrast, Samson has turned his fortunes around. Initially left out of India's playing eleven at the tournament's start due to a lean patch, he has emerged as one of the most explosive batters, amassing 232 runs in four innings at an average of 77.3 and a strike rate of 202, including two half-centuries and an impressive total of 16 sixes.

Samson's aggressive intent has been evident from the very first ball, with a strike rate of 198 in the Power-play and 205 thereafter. In his initial ten deliveries in the World Cup, he boasts a strike rate of 208, the highest among batters who have faced 30 or more balls in the competition. He also leads with the highest boundary percentage (79 percent) among batters with over 200 runs.

"Regarding the two at the top of the order, Sanju has been phenomenal. Observing Sanju for years in the IPL and his limited chances with India, it’s clear that in the last couple of innings, he has showcased the Sanju Samson we all recognize. His potential has not been consistently realized at the international level, making it a joy to witness his recent performances. He is a great player and an even better person; he’s always friendly during interviews and has a smile on his face. I’m thrilled with his success," Doull remarked, who has played 32 Tests and 42 ODIs for New Zealand.

Addressing how New Zealand might plan to tackle India's lineup filled with powerful hitters, Doull suggested that the primary focus would be on neutralizing the in-form Samson while managing a struggling Abhishek at the other end. "How will New Zealand counter him and Abhishek? I anticipate a strategy similar to what they used against South Africa, starting with Matt Henry for the first over," Doull explained.

"The ball moving back in towards Sanju Samson may pose challenges, and with Matt Henry's ability to swing the ball both ways, he can exploit both edges. Length will be crucial. Early on, Sanju may push a little hard at one, which Henry might capitalize on. They'll likely employ Cole McConchie against Abhishek in the second over, should the left-hander be on strike. This is how New Zealand plans to handle that opening combination. While it doesn't guarantee success, both Henry and McConchie have found success in these roles before, which is their approach," he concluded.