Former India cricketer Ambati Rayudu does not see in-form Varun Chakravarthy in India's playing XI for the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal clash despite the mystery spinner picking up a five-wicket haul against New Zealand. Rayudu feels India will go with young pacer Harshit Rana as there was help for seamers in the previous game.
"I feel there might be a change. There might be Harshit Rana getting a look in because the pitch might be rolled in, and it might be hard. And also, if you bowl first, you need an extra seamer because we have seen the ball moving around a little bit," Rayudu said on Star Sports.
Rayudu's predicted XI for IND vs AUS semifinal
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav
Chakravarthy has been lauded by many current and former cricketers for bamboozling Kiwi batters. Former head coach Ravi Shastri who is currently commentating also backed Chakravarthy to play against the Steve Smith-led Australia.
"Varun has put his hand up and delivered. He has put himself in contention for a spot in the XI in the semi-final," Shastri said.
"It's the right balance for this surface. You still have all the bases covered with the way Hardik is bowling. You have to see who gives you wickets in those middle overs. Varun Chakravarthy becomes crucial. I don't think Australia have seen much of him. And he is a good man to pick, as he was today," he added.
Meanwhile, skipper Rohit Sharma in the pre-match press conference remained tight-lipped about the team combination for the knockout clash.
"He [Varun] just showed what he is capable of. So now it is up to us to think and see how we can get that combination right," Rohit said. "He did everything that was asked for… he's got something different about him. And when he gets it right, he knocks people over and he takes five wickets. So it is very tempting."
