'It Is Tempting': Rohit Reflects Upon The Selection Strategy For Champions Trophy Semis After Chakaravarthy's Dominant Spell

Champions Trophy 2025, IND vs AUS: Following the grand success of implementing a spin-heavy strategy against New Zealand at the Champions Trophy, Team India skipper Rohit Sharma ponders upon enforcing the same against Australia in the Semifinal at the UAE. While the Indian skipper did not assure that the team would do so, the option seemed tempting to Rohit after the Men in Blue's success over the Blackcaps.

Rohit Sharma Calls Spin Strategy Against Australia In Semis ‘Tempting’

For the India vs New Zealand group stage clash, Team India opted for a spin-heavy lineup by adding Varun Chakaravarthy into the mix. The side already had the likes of Kuldeep Yadav and spin-bowling all-rounders Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja for the task. But it was the spin platoon which dismantled the Mitchell Santner-led side and Chakaravarthy pulled off a fifer. With the semifinal against Australia happening at the same stage, Rohit Sharma opened up on whether Team India would opt for a spin strategy. He said that it is a tempting option but needs to think about it.

"We really need to think, even if we want to play four spinners, how we can squeeze four spinners. If we don't, then we don't. Whatever works for us in terms of the bowling options, we will try and do that. The reason I say that is because the conditions here are -- we are very much aware of the conditions, and we know exactly what works and what doesn't work.

"So, we'll just give it a day. We'll think about it, what is the right combination to go with. But it is tempting," Rohit Sharma said at the pre-match press conference.

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Rohit Comments On Varun Chakaravarthy's Evolution

Further in his appearance, Rohit Sharma opened up on the headways Varun Chakaravarthy has made since he last played for the Indian quartet back in 2021. The India skipper recognized that Varun's accuracy has improved and he understands his craft well since he has engaged in a lot of cricket at the domestic and IPL level. Rohit added that the Indian batters also failed to recognize Varun's pace variation, which could act as an advantage for the Indian side.

"I think he's become more accurate now from the last time he played for India, which was way back in 2021. And I mean, there was a little bit of inexperience in him as well, because he hadn't played a lot of cricket. But right now, in the last two or three years, he's played a lot of cricket, whether it's domestic cricket, IPL, and now for India in T20s, and now the ODIs as well. He understands his bowling really well. There is definitely something about his bowling which he's using to his advantage. Some of our batters also couldn't figure that out, which is always nice," Rohit added.

The squad selection will be a challenge for Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma as they will face off against a known nemesis in the Champions Trophy semifinal. The Men in Blue will lock horns against Australia on Tuesday, March 04, 2025, in the UAE.

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