Varun bamboozles Kiwi batters as India tops group with all-win record

Varun Chakaravarthy shines with five-wicket haul as India secures spot in semifinals against Australia.

Varun Chakaravarthy’s previous international appearances at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium were forgettable as he went wicketless in the three games he played during the 2021 T20 World Cup.

On Sunday against New Zealand, he did not get off on the right note either on his Champions Trophy debut, dropping a sitter off a Free Hit at mid-on in the fourth over of the chase.

However, the Varun of 2025 is a far more savvy cricketer than he was four years ago and produced a mesmerising spell (10-0-42-5) to help the Men in Blue finish on top of Group-A with a convincing 44-run win in the final league match of the tournament.

The victory means India will take on Australia in the first semifinal here on Tuesday.

Defending a total of 249, the Tamil Nadu spinner, who replaced Harshit Rana in the playing XI, spun a web around the Kiwi batters and justified his late inclusion in the squad.

Earlier, riding on Shreyas Iyer’s fine 79 and a late cameo from Hardik Pandya (45), India managed 249 for nine.

In reply, the Black Caps’ innings never found its bearings against India’s four-pronged spin attack. Barring its star batter Kane Williamson who made a gritty 81 (120b, 7x4), the others appeared clueless against Varun’s guile and mystery.