Courtesy: BCCI/Sky Sports
Nasser Hussain, the former England captain, gave his perspective on the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final, stating that Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy is going to be a “challenge” for New Zealand at the Dubai International Stadium in the UAE. The 56-year-old pointed out that since New Zealand batters haven’t played him much during their careers, he is going to be a tricky customer for them to deal with, on Sunday, March 9.
Notably, Varun Chakravarthy made his Champions Trophy debut last weekend in a Group A clash against New Zealand at the aforementioned venue, picking up a five-wicket haul, to help India defend 249-run total successfully. During India’s 44-run victory, he dismissed the likes of Will Young, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, and Matt Henry, registering figures of 5/42 of 10 overs.
He is tricky when you’ve not seen him before: Hussain on Chakravarthy
While speaking on Sky Sports’ cricket show in the presence of Michael Atherton and Ian Ward, England legend detailed the degree of difficulty of facing Varun Chakravarthy for the first-time ever. He was quoted as saying, as per Indian Express, “Not many of the New Zealand line-up had seen Varun Chakaravarthy in that group stage. They have now. He is tricky when you’ve not seen him before, so that’s going to be a challenge for them.”
Nasser Hussain was also all praises of Indian spin bowlers, namely Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakravarthy, who have been exceptional as a unit in the last couple of matches in the Champions Trophy. He remarked, “They (India’s four spinners) are (all different), and two of them are genuine all-rounders. Before they set off out here, Rohit was asked why you need so many spinners. They’ve got Washington Sundar as well.”
The Englishman discussed the possibility of Indian team management including the off-spinner in the playing XI for the upcoming tournament final, but at the same time, he expects them to keep the same spin bowling quartet.
