Varun Chakaravarthy has created selection dilemma for semi-finals: Ambati Rayudu

As India secured a victory against New Zealand in their final group stage match and progressed to the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy semi-final, former India cricketer Ambati Rayudu shared his insights on the team's performance against New Zealand in their final group-stage fixutre, which won by 44 runs on the back of a combined effort.

Varun Chakravarthy was the star of the show, as he bagged a fifer in what was his first game in the tournament. He replaced Harshit Rana in the playing XI after not being a part of the XI against Bangaldesh and Pakistan. Rayudu lauded India’s spinners, with a special mention of Chakaravarthy, who deservedly won the Player of the Match award for his 5/42

"Varun was great today. Early in his career, he wasn’t very consistent with his lines and lengths. But now, his bowling makes him a very difficult bowler to face. His action naturally makes it look like he’s delivering left-arm spin, but 90% of his deliveries are googlies, making it tough for batsmen who haven’t faced him before. I don't think many New Zealand batsmen have played against him much, and he will only continue to improve for India," Rayudu said on JioHotstar.

"His impressive performance might have created a selection dilemma heading into the semi-finals. India will have a tough time deciding, with so many big players to choose from, but Varun Chakravarthy has been brilliant. We’ve seen his impact in India, and all the spinners were outstanding today—Jadeja was amazing, and all four spinners bowled exceptionally well. The pitch definitely assisted them, but New Zealand’s batsmen also struggled against spin, which is an area they will need to improve."

Rayudu also spoke about Shreyas Iyer’s performance, as the right-hander played a critical knock of 79 off 98, proving his worth at No. 4 for the umpreenth time. Iyer and Axar Patel's 98-run stand was key in India's recovery after they had lost three quick wickets in the powerplay.

"The importance of a No. 4 batsman is evident here. You need someone to play such crucial innings when the top order fails, especially on challenging surfaces that are not easy to bat on. That’s where No. 4 and No. 5 become critical in an ODI game. Shreyas played an amazing innings, and his partnership with Axar Patel was crucial," said Rayudu.

"The ease with which he batted on this pitch was remarkable. He handled short balls well until he got out and played spin beautifully, using the crease and angles to his advantage. He picked the pace of the ball much better than many others in the Indian lineup. It was an unbelievable knock, and he's been a champion at No. 4. We don’t talk about him enough, but he has had a great impact on this Indian side," he added.

Rayudu also reflected on Virat Kohli’s landmark 300th ODI appearance, acknowledging its significance in cricket history. He said:

"The intent was there, and expectations were high. You could see in his eyes that he was focused, hungry for a big score. On big occasions, Virat Kohli usually rises to the challenge and gives us those celebratory moments. Unfortunately, today, Glenn Phillips took an unbelievable catch to dismiss him. It was just one of those days where luck wasn't on his side. But hopefully, he converts this hunger into a big innings in the semi-finals. We all want to see him at his best, and he has our full support. Glenn Phillips just spoiled the party today." 

Looking ahead to the semi-final clash against Australia, Rayudu highlighted a key battle to watch out for:

"It’s going to be Adam Zampa versus Virat Kohli. Virat has struggled a bit against leg-spinners lately, but the kind of form he has shown in this tournament will serve him well against Australia."