Varun Chakravarthy’s stellar performance against New Zealand makes the four-spinner strategy an enticing option as India prepares for the high-stakes semifinal against Australia.
March 4, 2025: India’s Likely Playing XI for Semifinal vs Australia: Rohit Sharma Weighs Spin-Heavy Attack
As India gears up to face Australia in the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal, captain Rohit Sharma has hinted at a possible spin-heavy strategy after Varun Chakravarthy’s match-winning 5/42 against New Zealand. While Rohit did not confirm sticking to the four-spinner template, he acknowledged that Chakravarthy’s impact has made the option “very tempting.”
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India’s previous game saw Rohit Sharma & Co. dominate New Zealand with a four-spinner attack, including Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja, who collectively claimed nine wickets in a crucial 44-run victory.
Key Highlights from Rohit Sharma’s Pre-Match Press Conference
🔹 On Playing Four Spinners:
“We really need to think if we can squeeze four spinners into the XI. We know what works in these conditions, so it’s definitely tempting,” Rohit said.
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🔹 Chakravarthy’s Selection & Performance:
- “He just showed what he is capable of. He has something different, and when he gets it right, he takes five-fors. It’s a great headache for us.”
- Rohit praised Chakravarthy’s improved accuracy and pace variations, calling him a “much more polished bowler” than in 2021.
🔹 Middle-Order Resilience:
- Rohit credited Shreyas Iyer (79), Hardik Pandya (45), and Axar Patel (42) for India’s fightback after losing early wickets against New Zealand.
- “It’s great to see the middle order step up when needed, which is crucial in knockout games.”
🔹 Axar Patel’s Rise as a No. 5 Batter:
- Rohit revealed that Axar was given a clear role to bat at No. 5 ahead of KL Rahul.
- “His improvement with the bat has been superb, and he showed his worth in the T20 World Cup final as well.”
India’s Likely Playing XI vs Australia
📌 Rohit Sharma (C)
📌 Shubman Gill
📌 Virat Kohli
📌 Shreyas Iyer
📌 KL Rahul / Axar Patel (depending on combination)
📌 Hardik Pandya
📌 Ravindra Jadeja
📌 Kuldeep Yadav
📌 Varun Chakravarthy
📌 Mohammed Shami / Harshit Rana
📌 Arshdeep Singh
What to Expect?
📍 India may opt for four spinners if the conditions favor turn.
📍 Chakravarthy is likely to retain his spot after his sensational spell.
📍 A strong middle-order showing will be key to counter Australia’s attack.
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