Champions Trophy: Kumble Praises Chakaravarthy's Stellar Performance

Synopsis

Anil Kumble has commended Varun Chakaravarthy for his exceptional 5-42 performance against New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy. Kumble highlighted Chakaravarthy's impact over the last 1.5 years, praising his ability to secure victories for various teams and expressing optimism about his role in the upcoming semi-final.

Key Takeaways

Varun Chakaravarthy took 5-42 against New Zealand.
His performance is critical for India's Champions Trophy campaign.
Kumble praises Chakaravarthy's consistency over the past 1.5 years.
India's strategy of using four spinners could challenge Australia.
Chakaravarthy's late inclusion has proved beneficial.

Dubai, March 3 (NationPress) The legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble has praised the remarkable Varun Chakaravarthy for his impressive 5-42 performance during India’s 44-run victory over New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy. Kumble noted that this wrist-spinner has been instrumental in securing wins for his teams over the past 1.5 years, and his latest performance is a significant boost for the Rohit Sharma-led squad.

At the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, Chakaravarthy achieved the best bowling figures of the ongoing tournament with his 5-42 performance in just his second ODI match, effectively dismantling New Zealand and helping India secure the top position in Group A.

Chakaravarthy was a late addition to India’s Champions Trophy roster, stepping in for left-handed opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, which led to speculation about whether the team was over-reliant on spinners given Dubai’s slow pitch conditions. However, both Chakaravarthy and India proved that this decision was a wise one.

“I believe Varun has been outstanding over the past 1-1.5 years, consistently leading his teams to victory, whether with Tamil Nadu, KKR, or India in T20Is. Now, he’s getting a chance in ODIs, especially since India had already qualified,” said Kumble.

“Considering the pitch and conditions for the upcoming semi-final—and hopefully the final—this is certainly promising for India,” Kumble added in an interview with ESPNcricinfo on Monday.

The Chennai native first dismissed Will Young, then returned during the latter middle overs to take down Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell in successive overs. He capped off his remarkable performance by removing Mitchell Santner and bowling out Matt Henry on the very next delivery to complete his five-wicket haul.

Chakaravarthy may have another opportunity to shine when India faces Australia in the first Champions Trophy semi-final in Dubai on Tuesday. Kumble believes Australia will struggle if India continues with a four-spinner strategy in this critical match.

“If this is the type of pitch India will continue to play on in Dubai, then the four-pronged spin attack will present a real challenge for any team. Australia will find it incredibly tough to navigate through these four spinners,” he concluded.