New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner stated that India’s mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy could be a big threat for them in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final clash. The Black Caps skipper stated that some of his players faced Chakravarthy for the first time in their group-stage match against India.
The Champions Trophy 2025 final between India and New Zealand will be played on Sunday, March 9 at the Dubai International Stadium. New Zealand suffered their only defeat in the tournament against India, where Varun Chakravarthy recorded bowling figures of 5-42 and won the Player of the Match award.
Varun Chakravarthy Is Obviously a World-Class Bowler – Mitchell Santner
At a press conference ahead of the final, Mitchell Santner said that facing mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy in the group-stage match will help them. Santner said Chakravarthy is a world-class bowler with an element of mystery.
“I think guys will be better for the run against Varun. He’s obviously a world-class bowler we’ve seen it here and in the IPL. He’s got that little bit of mystery. But it was the first time some of the guys have been facing him. I think they’ll learn from the other day,” Santner said, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
Varun Chakravarthy missed India’s first two group-stage matches in the Champions Trophy. The leg-spinner delivered a match-winning spell in his Champions Trophy debut game against New Zealand as India secured a 44-run victory.
He continued his impressive form in the semi-final against Australia, picking up 2-49 in 10 overs. The spinner dismissed Travis Head and Ben Dwarshuis. Chakravarthy has taken eight wickets in three ODIs at an impressive average of 18.12.
That 115kph Arm Ball, That Got Me – Mitchell Santner
Mitchell Santner recalled his dismissal against Varun Chakravarthy in the group-stage match. He stated that Varun’s 115kph arm ball had dismissed him. Santner said that it will be a tough challenge to face Chakravarthy if the pitch helps spinners.
“If the pitch plays a similar way, it’s going to be a challenge along with all three of their other spinners. I think the boys will be ready for tomorrow having looked at a little bit more footage. We know what his threats are now. That 115kph arm ball, that got me – that was a bit of a threat,” Santner added.
Axar and Jadeja Denied Us for a Long Time – Mitchell Santner
Varun Chakravarthy has been a wicket-taking option for India, but Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja have also played their roles well on the spin-friendly Dubai pitch.
The 33-year-old stated that Axar and Jadeja troubled them. However, Santner added that batters would need to rotate the strike and capitalize on loose deliveries to post a competitive total on a slow wicket.
“I think the way Axar and Jadeja denied us for a long time, it might be something similar again on a slow wicket, 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,” Santner said.
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