Image: India sealed victory over New Zealand thanks to Varun Chakravarthy's fifer / © Sports Tak
For the Indian cricket team, Varun Chakravarthy’s performance against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy 2025 was a defining moment. The mystery spinner took an incredible five-wicket haul, helping India secure a 44-run victory and finish at the top of Group A. This match held personal significance for Chakravarthy, as he had unpleasant memories of the Dubai International Stadium from the 2021 T20 World Cup, where India suffered a humiliating 10-wicket loss to Pakistan.
Chakravarthy admitted to feeling nervous before his first spell, recalling how past failures haunted him. However, encouragement from senior players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Hardik Pandya helped him stay composed. His spell dismantled the Kiwi batting lineup, proving his ability to adapt from T20 cricket to the 50-over format.
Reflecting on his bowling strategy, Chakravarthy explained that although the Dubai pitch wasn’t a rank turner, it offered enough grip and deviation to trouble the batters. His disciplined approach paid off, and he credited his fellow bowlers for creating pressure that led to wickets.
With this victory, India advanced to the semifinals, where they will face Australia in a high-stakes clash. Chakravarthy’s resurgence adds a new dimension to India’s bowling attack ahead of the crucial knockout match.