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India have entered the semifinals of the Champions Trophy by winning all three of their matches and will next take on Australia.
Varun Chakravarthy took a five-wicket haul on his Champions Trophy debut. (AP Photo)
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has entered its business end with four teams – India, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa – now in the fray out of eight participants for the title. India, led by Rohit Sharma, are two wins away from securing their second ICC title in 10 months having won the 2024 T20 World Cup last June.
India will take on Australia in the first semifinal of the tournament on Tuesday, hoping to exact revenge of their 2023 ODI World Cup final defeat.
Ahead of the high voltage clash, Ravi Shastri has advised the Indian team to not disturb their winning combination that secured 44-run win over New Zealand in their third and final Group A fixture.
India made one change to their eleven for the New Zealand fixture with legspinner Varun Chakaravarthy replacing fast bowler Harshit Rana. Chakaravarthy responded with a five-wicket haul to help India bowl out New Zealand for 205 in 45.3 overs.
“Very impressed with him (Chakaravarthy), and full marks to the think tank and the team management for making the right choice because he’s someone who will get you wickets in the middle overs,” Shastri said.
“It’s the right time to unleash him. They brought him into the side; he’s got a five-wicket haul, and I think he’s there to stay,” he added.
Shastri feels that the novelty factor could work in Chakaravarthy’s favour as not many teams have faced him so far.
“If you see his current form, and I always believe in current form – it’s vital and when you look at his body language, his self-confidence and his own ability and when you look at oppositions like New Zealand, Australia, South Africa that are left in this tournament, not many sides have played too much of him or seen enough of him,” Shastri said.
“I think I would go with the same eleven now because the turnaround time is less than 48 hours. The square is a little tired at the moment; people have run on the pitch that is going to be used the day after, so the spinners will again come into play,” he added.
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Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
