Champions Trophy IND vs AUS semifinal: Will India pick Varun Chakravarthy in playing XI against Australia?
Varun Chakravarthy, who was picked in the playing XI against New Zealand as a replacement for rested pacer Harshit Rana, took 5/42 and helped India defend a modest total of 249
Varun Chakravarthy, who was picked in the playing XI against New Zealand as a replacement for rested pacer Harshit Rana, took 5/42 and helped India defend a modest total of 249
Varun Chakravarthy, who was picked in the playing XI against New Zealand as a replacement for rested pacer Harshit Rana, took 5/42 and helped India defend a modest total of 249
Varun Chakravarthy, who was picked in the playing XI against New Zealand as a replacement for rested pacer Harshit Rana, took 5/42 and helped India defend a modest total of 249
Australia may be without their strike bowlers Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, but it has not stopped them from entering the semifinal of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. With one win and two abandoned matches in the group stage, the Aussies would have hoped for a better build-up to the knockouts.
India, on the other hand, stormed into the semifinals with three comprehensive wins over Bangladesh, Pakistan and New Zealand, and look the stronger side on paper. Also, the fact that India have played all their matches in Dubai so far – thanks to the hybrid format of the tournament – has helped them understand the conditions better and select their playing XI accordingly.
India vs Australia semifinal LIVE: Head-to-head in ICC knockout matches
However, the Indians will know better than writing off the Aussies in knockout matches. The last time India won against Australia in the knockout stage of an ICC tournament was in the quarterfinal of the 2011 World Cup, which the Men in Blue went on to win.
India lost to Australia in the semifinals of the 2015 ODI World Cup and in the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup. Albeit a different format, India also lost to them in the World Test Championship final in 2023.
India vs Australia semifinal LIVE: Will India go in with four spinners again?
Whether India will be tempted to go in with four spinners – Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy – again, as they did against New Zealand in their last Group A match, is the question.
Not only did the Indian spin quartet take nine wickets against the Kiwis, they also bowled 128 dot balls in the 39 overs bowled between them to put New Zealand under immense pressure, and successfully defending a modest target of 250.
Chakravarthy, who was picked in the playing XI as a replacement for rested pacer Harshit Rana, took 5/42, thus giving the Indian team management a fresh selection headache. Former India coach Ravi Shastri and ex-skipper and spin stalwart Anil Kumble have thrown their weight behind the Tamil Nadu mystery spinner.
His inclusion in the playing XI will depend a lot on the Aussie batting lineup and the pitch being used in the semifinal today. With the exception of Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell, most of the other Australian batters have not faced Chakravarthy enough, and that might work in India’s favour as it’s not easy to pick his variations.