 "IND vs NZ: Varun Chakravarthy admits to feeling nervous initially, credits remaining spinners for ‘total team effort’")
It was a dream evening for Varun Chakravarthy at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday as the wily leg-spinner starred in India's 44-run victory over New Zealand with a haul of 5/42, his maiden five-for in One-Day Internationals. Speaking to the broadcasters during the post-match presentation ceremony after being adjudged the Player of the Match, Chakravarthy credited Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel for their support in a “total team effort” from the spin department.
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Chakravarthy was included in place of seamer and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) teammate Harshit Rana as the Men in Blue opted to bolster their spin department for the slow Dubai wicket. The decision would pay off richly in the end for Rohit Sharma and Co as the spinners ended up collecting nine of the 10 Kiwi wickets that fell in Dubai on Sunday.
The 33-year-old also admitted that he was feeling nervous earlier in the day due to his relative unfamiliarity with the 50-over format. Sunday’s Group A clash – the final group match of the ongoing tournament – was only his second one-day appearance for India, with Chakravarthy having made his debut in the three-match ODI series against England last month.
‘Was definitely expecting to play for the country’: Chakravarthy
“First of all I did feel nervous in the initial stages. I have not played many matches for India in the ODI format but as the game went on I felt better. Virat, Rohit, Shreyas and Hardik were talking to me and that helped,” the Tamil Nadu bowler said during the post-match presentation ceremony.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“I found out last night (On replacing KKR teammate Rana). I was definitely expecting to play for the country but on the other side I was nervous. It was not a rank turner, but if you bowled in the right places it was giving help.
“The way Kuldeep, Jaddu and Axar bowled, even the pace bowlers, it was a total team effort,” Chakravarthy added.
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All-rounder Hardik Pandya was the only seamer among the wickets on Sunday, drawing first blood for the Indians by removing Rachin Ravindra – with Axar Patel putting in a slide near the third man boundary to complete a fantastic catch.
India had earlier posted 249/9 after getting invited to bat, with Shreyas Iyer top-scoring for the Men in Blue with a fighting knock of 79 off 98 deliveries. He forged a patient fourth-wicket stand with Axar (42) worth 98 that helped India recover after getting reduced to 30/3 at one stage.
Pandya later chipped in with a run-a-ball 45 to ensure India finished within touching distance of 250.
Chakravarthy wasn’t the only bowler to collect a five-for though, as Matt Henry had finished with identical figures of 5/42, including the prized wicket of Virat Kohli – who made his 300th ODI appearance on Sunday.
India face Australia in the first semi-final on Tuesday as a result of finishing on top of Group A while New Zealand face Group B toppers South Africa in Lahore in the other semi-final the following day.
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