India’s mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy became the World No 1 bowler in T20Is in the latest ICC rankings. Varun Chakaravarthy, who has been on a steady rise since his return to the national side from the Bangladesh series onwards, took a couple of wickets in the first two matches of the ongoing Asia Cup for India and achieved his career-best rating points of 733, earning a three-spot jump. Varun Chakaravarthy displaced Kiwi pacer Jacob Duffy from the top after a period of five months.
On the other hand, Varun Chakaravarthy’s spin partner in the Asia Cup, Kuldeep Yadav, rose 16 places to 23rd spot. Kuldeep Yadav has been extraordinary for India in the ongoing Asia Cup, being the leading wicket-taker, having dismissed seven batters in two matches and was adjudged the Player of the Match in both games. The third spinner, Axar Patel, who picked a couple of wickets against Pakistan, also moved up a spot to 12th.
Suryakumar Yadav-led India will face arch-rivals Pakistan in a much-anticipated Super 4 match of the Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on September 21, Sunday. India will enter as favorites after topping Group A, having defeated Pakistan in their group stage encounter on September 14.
Riding high on an unbeaten run in the group stage of the Asia Cup 2025, the India management led by captain Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir will look to field their strongest combination against Pakistan .Mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy was rested during India’s Group A fixture against Oman in Abu Dhabi on Friday. However, Varun is all set to place against Pakistan on Sunday, replacing Harshit Rana in the India’s playing XI.
Jasprit Bumrah was rested during India’s Group A fixture against Oman in Abu Dhabi on Friday. However, Bumrah is all set to lead India’s bowling attack in the Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 match against Pakistan in Dubai on September 21, Sunday. His exceptional skills with the new ball as well as at the death make him one of the most feared bowlers in the world.
Kuldeep Yadav has been in red-hot form with the ball with 8 wickets (4 vs UAE, 3 vs PAK and 1vs OMAN )in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 match. He is all set to play a key role for India in their Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 match against Pakistan in Dubai on September 21, Sunday. Seeing this as the changes in the Indian setup, Former Indian cricketer now commentator Aakash Chopra for one more time in the series believes that both Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav as India’s trump card’s in Super 4s clash vs Pakistan.
Aakash Chopra believes Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy to be India’s trump cards vs Pakistan in Super 4s
Former Indian opener now commentators reckons that spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy could define the India vs Pakistan match at the Dubai Intenational Stadium on Sunday, September 21. Aakash chopra said that the Pakistani batter’s seemed clueless against India’s spinners at the same venue last week and added that the surface in Dubai is expected to offer assistance to bowlers yet again.
India thumped Pakistan by seven wickets in the Group A match between them them last Sunday at the Dubai Intenational Stadium. Batting first, Pakistan were held to 127-9, a total India chased in 15.5 overs.. Left-arm-wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav was the Player of the Match for claiming 3-18 , while leg- spinner Varun Chakaravarthy registered economical figures from 1-24 from his 4 overs.
During the discussion on ESPNCricinfo ahead of India vs Pakistan Super 4 clash, Former India opener Aakash Chopra agreed to an observation that Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy are likely to be the key men in the contest yet again . He said :
“Quite possible, because the pitch in Dubai is a little more spin-friendly compared to the one that we have seen in Abu Dhabi. What we gathered from the previous game against Pakistan was the fact that they were very timid against India’s spin. Lack of skill was also on display. The fact was there were far too many dot balls.”
The 48-year-old,-stressed on the fact that Pakistan were unable to read the ball from the Indian spinner’s hand in the previous match between the two sides and just seemed to to be playing the guessing game. Aakash Chopra elaborated :
“If you are not able to read the ball from the hand, and your only response is ‘either my way or the highway’, that’s not going to work. You can’t rotate the strike, you can’t really push the bowlers on the back foot. If that is not going to happen, then that becomes a problem. So far whatever we have seen, Pakistan have struggled against quality spin and these two bowlers are high quality.”
Kuldeep Yadav has claimed 8 wickets in 3 matches in the Asia Cup 2025 at an average of six. Varun Chakaravarthy has picked up two scalps in 2 games. He was rested for the match against Oman.
India defeated Oman in their final group stage fixture and topped Group A. The Men in Blue handed their opponents a 21-run defeat to continue their unbeaten run in the competition heading into the Super 4 stage. They will now be facing Pakistan for the second time in the ongoing edition of the continental tournament.
The Men in Blue had emerged victorious in the first meeting of the two teams and had done so in comprehensive fashion. Suryakumar Yadav & Co. had handed Pakistan a one-sided 7-wicket defeat to once again assert their dominance in the rivalry.
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