India’s Varun Chakravarthy took five wickets in his ICC Champions Trophy debut against New Zealand at Dubai International Stadium.
Highlights:
- Varun Chakravarthy claimed a fifer against New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy.
- Rohit Sharma praised Varun Chakaravarthy’s unique bowling skills and called him an X-factor for India.
India captain Rohit Sharma praised Varun Chakaravarthy for his five-wicket haul on his Champions Trophy debut against New Zealand in Dubai. He said Chakaravarthy’s X-factor earned him a spot in India’s final group game.
Karnataka-based spinner Varun Chakaravarthy justified his selection with impressive figures of 5/42 in 10 overs. India secured a 44-run win, topping Group A and advancing to the semifinals alongside second-placed New Zealand.
Rohit Sharma praised Varun Chakaravarthy’s unique skills, saying, “He has something different about him, so we wanted to see what he had to offer. It’s a good headache for the next game. If he gets it right, he’s very difficult to read.”
India will face Australia in the first semifinal on Tuesday, while New Zealand will take on South Africa in Lahore on Wednesday.
Rohit Sharma said, “It will be a good game. Australia has a strong history in ICC tournaments, but it’s about us and what we do on the day. It will be a great contest, and we’re looking forward to it. Hopefully, we can get the result in our favor.”
Rohit emphasized the importance of maintaining winning momentum in a short tournament like the Champions Trophy.
Rohit Sharma stressed the need to win every game in a short tournament, saying, “It’s critical to do everything right and correct mistakes quickly—that’s how we know if the team is improving or not. Finishing on a high is important. We played a perfect game. After being 30/3, building a partnership was crucial, and we reached a good total.”
India will play their semifinal at the same venue on March 4. If the match is washed out, a reserve day is available for the semifinals.
