Picture Credit: X
Rohit Sharma-led Team India will take on 2023 World Cup winners Australia in the first-semi-final of the ICC Chamen’s Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on Tuesday, March 4. Although the two teams are coming into this fixture after some contrasting results, India will aim to avenge their 2023 CWC defeat and secure a berth for the summit clash.
Ahead of the crucial clash, the Indian skipper, Rohit Sharma hinted on the player combination they would like to go with. Speaking at the pre-match press conference in Dubai, although the 37-year-old did not commit to following the four-spinner template, but added that Varun Chakravarthy’s performance against New Zealand has made the option look “tempting”.
Whatever works for us in terms of bowling options, we will try and do that: Rohit Sharma
It is to be noted that India played with four spinners in Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel in match against New Zealand. Hinting of the player combination in the semi-final, Rohit Sharma said, "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."
The 37-year-old Mumbai batter also hailed Chakravarthy’s efforts, adding, “He just showed what he is capable of. Now, it is up to us to think and see how we can get that combination right. He got a game, and he did everything that was asked for.”
Rohit Sharma also continued, “He has got something different about him and when he gets it right, he knocks people over and he takes 5-5. So, it is very tempting to think about what to do, which is a good headache to have. We will also assess the Australian batting lineup to see what kind of bowling options will work against them.”
India’s squad for ICC Champions Trophy, 2025
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.
