Varun Chakravarthy: The Inexperienced Game-Changer
The Indian cricket team has a wealth of experience that the New Zealand men’s side will need to reckon with in the Champions Trophy final. However, one of India’s least experienced players, Varun Chakravarthy, is likely to loom large on the minds of the New Zealand batters. Despite having played only three One Day Internationals (ODIs), Chakravarthy has already made a significant impact, with eight wickets at an impressive average of 18.12. His standout performance came in the final group match against New Zealand, where he claimed 5 for 42 on a big-turning track, leaving many Kiwi batters baffled by his wily leg-spin and off-spin combination.
Net Session Surprise: Chakravarthy Outfoxes Kohli
Two days before the final, during a net session at the ICC Academy on Friday evening, Chakravarthy even managed to bamboozle the formidable Virat Kohli. This display of skill and unpredictability further cements his reputation as a bowler who can cause trouble, even to the world’s best. Building on his five-wicket haul against New Zealand, Chakravarthy also had a solid outing against Australia in the semi-final, taking 2 for 49 from 10 overs, though the pitch was less conducive to spin. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner acknowledged the challenge posed by Chakravarthy, but also highlighted the learning opportunity for his team.
Preparing for the Mystery
"I think guys will be better for the run against Varun," Santner said on the eve of the final. "He’s obviously a world-class bowler, and we’ve seen it here and in the IPL. He has that little bit of mystery. But it was the first time some of the guys have been facing him, so I think they’ll learn from the other day." Santner received a particularly vicious delivery from Chakravarthy in the group match, a flat and fast ball that took substantial turn to knock out his off stump. "If the pitch plays a similar way, it’s going to be a challenge along with all three of their other spinners. We know what his threats are now, that 115kph arm ball, which got me—it was a bit of a threat."
The Spin Quartet’s Impact
While Chakravarthy is India’s leading spin-bowling wicket-taker in the tournament, the other three spinners in their lineup have also been effective. Axar Patel has five wickets, and both Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja have taken four each. Their collective success on the turning Dubai pitch has been a crucial factor, as they managed to stymie New Zealand’s progress through the middle overs in the previous encounter. "I think the way Axar and Jadeja denied us for a long time, it might be similar again on a slow wicket," Santner noted. "Where it’s as if you can kind of just rotate and hit the odd bad ball away, you can get yourself up to a decent score."
New Zealand’s Spinning Arsenal
New Zealand, too, has a formidable quartet of spinners in Santner himself, Michael Bracewell, Glenn Phillips, and Rachin Ravindra. The Kiwis are well aware that their spinners will play a crucial role, especially on a slow and turning pitch. "On the flipside, it’s the same for us," Santner explained. "For us, it’s about trying to build pressure for a long period of time to produce a false shot. We’ve got some good players of spin, and it’s about them trying to just play their games, whether it’s to get your broom out and sweep or to use your feet. We kind of give our players the freedom to play their own way."
The Final Face-Off
The Champions Trophy final is shaping up to be a battle of wits and skill, with both teams possessing strong spin bowling lineups. India’s spin quartet, led by the inexperienced yet highly effective Chakravarthy, will aim to replicate their performance from the group stage. New Zealand’s batters, armed with the knowledge gained from their previous encounter, will look to adapt and counter the Indian spinners’ strategies. The match promises to be a thrilling contest, where the ability to outthink and outplay the opposition will be key. Both teams have the talent and experience to put up a formidable challenge, but it is Chakravarthy’s mystery and unpredictability that could tilt the balance in India’s favor.
