Mumbai, March 5: The Indian cricket team is set to face England in the T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday. The Indian squad has struggled against opposing spin bowlers throughout the tournament, and now they face additional pressure due to their own spinner, Varun Chakravarthy. However, Chakravarthy has an impressive record against England.
In the Super-8 stage, Varun has been expensive, conceding 122 runs in 12 overs while taking only 3 wickets against South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the West Indies. Currently, he is considered a trump card for Indian spin bowling, making his lack of effectiveness a concern ahead of the semifinal. Nonetheless, Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel remains confident in Varun’s abilities.
Morkel stated, “Chakravarthy has the potential to take wickets with every delivery and can change the course of any match. His dedication reinforces this belief—he often arrives first for practice sessions and bowls for extended periods in the nets.”
He added, “Varun’s temperament also sets him apart. He neither celebrates excessively in success nor berates himself after poor performances. Instead, he is his own harshest critic, constantly striving to improve. The team only needs him to deliver one outstanding over to secure victory.”
Despite not bowling up to his reputation in the Super-8, Varun remains India’s leading wicket-taker in this World Cup, with 12 wickets in 7 matches. His best performance is taking 3 wickets for just 7 runs.
Varun is almost certain to be included in the playing XI for the semifinal. His role could be crucial, as this enigmatic leg-spinner has taken 14 wickets in 5 matches against England, with his best performance being 5 wickets for 24 runs.
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