Ravi Shastri on Varun Chakravarthy: ‘It’s right time to unleash him’ | Cricket News
Ravi Shastri lauded Team India’s decision to bring Varun Chakravarthy in the playing XI. The 33-year-old mystery spinner picked up five for 42 in India’s 44-run win over New Zealand in the final group A match in Dubai on Sunday.
“Very impressed with him (Chakravarthy), 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.
“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,” former head coach Shastri said in an ICC video posted on Instagram.
“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 also suggested that India should retain the playing XI against Australia in the semifinal.
“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,” said Shastri.
Varun Chakravarthy had credited his success to the senior Indian players in the team.
“The senior players helped me and, as the game went on, I felt better,” Chakravarthy said after the match.
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“I am not a big turner (of the ball) but if you bowled in the right areas, there was help from the surface.”
India won all three group games and will play Australia in the first semifinal on Tuesday, also in Dubai.
New Zealand faces Group B winner South Africa in the second semifinal on Wednesday in Lahore, Pakistan.
