Champions Trophy: Rohit Praises Chakaravarthy's Unique Skills
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Synopsis
In the 2025 Champions Trophy, Rohit Sharma highlights Varun Chakaravarthy's unique bowling skills after India's 44-run triumph over New Zealand, leading to a semi-final meeting with Australia.
Key Takeaways
- India advanced to the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy.
- Varun Chakaravarthy took 5 wickets for 42 runs.
- Shreyas Iyer scored a pivotal 79 runs.
- India's bowlers showcased exceptional skills on a challenging pitch.
- Rohit Sharma emphasized the importance of focus in the upcoming match against Australia.
Dubai, March 2 (NationPress) After India confirmed their semi-final matchup against Australia in the 2025 Champions Trophy with a 44-run victory over New Zealand, captain Rohit Sharma expressed that the decision to include Varun Chakaravarthy, who achieved remarkable figures of 5-42, was to explore the potential of the wrist-spinner.
In the match held at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, Chakaravarthy, making only his second ODI appearance, spearheaded India's effort on a sluggish black soil pitch, delivering an impressive 5-42, the top bowling figures in the tournament so far, helping to dismiss New Zealand for 205 in 45.3 overs and securing India's position as Group A leaders.
“Varun brings something unique; we wanted to evaluate his contributions. We need to strategize for the next match, which is a pleasant dilemma (regarding his selection). If he finds his rhythm, he becomes exceptionally challenging to read,” Rohit stated during the post-match presentation.
India also benefited from Shreyas Iyer scoring a solid 79 and forming a crucial 98-run partnership with Axar Patel, who contributed 42. “Finishing strongly was vital for us. New Zealand is a formidable team with recent success. The Axar-Shreyas partnership proved essential after losing early wickets in the powerplay. They helped us reach a competitive total, and with our skilled bowlers, we were confident in defending it. Momentum is crucial in such a condensed format,” Rohit added.
India's first semi-final in Dubai will see them face Australia in a rematch of the 2023 ODI World Cup final, which they lost at home in Ahmedabad. Rohit believes this semi-final against the Steve Smith-led team will be an exciting encounter.
“Errors occur, but it’s essential to rectify them. This match promises to be thrilling. Australia has a rich legacy in ICC tournaments. Our focus must be on executing our strategy effectively on that day. We are eager for this match, and hopefully, we can steer it in our favor,” he remarked.
Chakaravarthy, awarded Player of the Match, confessed to feeling anxious at the beginning but grew more comfortable as the game progressed, bolstered by encouragement from his teammates.
“I was indeed nervous initially. Having not played much for India in ODIs, those nerves were present. As the game unfolded, I settled in. Virat, Rohit, Shreyas, and Hardik all spoke to me, urging me to relax. I found out last night about playing. Although it wasn’t a spin-friendly pitch, accurate bowling made a significant difference. The collective effort of Kuldeep, Jaddu, Axar, and even the pacers was pivotal,” he shared.
New Zealand, on the other hand, will face South Africa in the second semi-final at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday, with both teams traveling together to Lahore on Monday. Captain Mitchell Santner acknowledged that the pitch was slower than anticipated during their chase.
“The wicket was slower than we expected. India managed to control the middle overs effectively. Shreyas batted remarkably, and Hardik finished the innings strong. The spin was more pronounced than in previous games here.
“Having four quality spinners posed a challenge. Our key was taking wickets during the powerplay. Kane’s form is promising for us. South Africa is a strong side, featuring four excellent fast bowlers on pitches with pace and bounce,” said Santner.
