Varun Chakaravarthy a Big Threat, We’ll Think of Nullifying Him: NZ Head Coach Stead
As the final of the ICC Champions Trophy approaches, the New Zealand team is gearing up to face a formidable Indian side. In a recent interview, head coach Gary Stead expressed his concerns about the threat posed by India’s spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, who picked five wickets against the Kiwis in their group-stage match. Stead acknowledged that Chakaravarthy’s performance will be a big challenge for his team, and they will need to put their thinking caps on to nullify his threat and score runs against him.
Varun Chakaravarthy has been in excellent form in the tournament, and his ability to spin the ball both ways has made him a nightmare for batsmen. His performance against New Zealand was particularly impressive, as he used his guile and variation to dismiss several top-order batsmen. Stead recognized the threat that Chakaravarthy poses and said that his team will need to come up with a strategy to counter his attack.
“We’ll be putting our thinking caps on around how we nullify that and how we can still score runs against him,” Stead said. This statement suggests that the New Zealand team is aware of the importance of scoring runs against Chakaravarthy and is willing to work hard to develop a plan to achieve that goal.
Scoring runs against a spinner like Chakaravarthy is never easy, as he can make the ball turn and bounce unpredictably. However, the New Zealand batsmen have shown in the past that they are capable of adapting to different conditions and opposition. If they can develop a good understanding of Chakaravarthy’s bowling style and tactics, they may be able to score runs against him.
One of the key factors that could help the New Zealand batsmen is the experience of playing against Chakaravarthy in their group-stage match. Although they lost that match, the Kiwi batsmen will have gained valuable insight into Chakaravarthy’s bowling style and tactics. This knowledge can help them develop a better strategy to counter his attack and score runs.
Another factor that could work in the New Zealand team’s favor is the fact that Chakaravarthy is a relatively new player in international cricket. Although he has been impressive in his limited opportunities, he may still be finding his feet at the international level. This could give the New Zealand batsmen an opportunity to take him apart and score runs against him.
However, Chakaravarthy’s experience in Indian domestic cricket and his ability to spin the ball both ways make him a formidable opponent. He has already shown that he can be effective against top-order batsmen, and the New Zealand team will need to be cautious when facing him.
To nullify Chakaravarthy’s threat, the New Zealand team may need to adopt a more aggressive approach. This could involve playing shots that are designed to take the pressure off their batsmen and score runs quickly. They may also need to be more selective in their strokeplay, choosing to play only the balls that are likely to come to them and leaving the rest to spin.
The New Zealand team will also need to be prepared to adapt to different situations and conditions. Chakaravarthy’s bowling style is designed to make the ball turn and bounce unpredictably, and the Kiwi batsmen will need to be prepared to adjust their strokeplay accordingly. This could involve playing more shots on the back foot or using the pace of the ball to their advantage.
In conclusion, Varun Chakaravarthy is a big threat for the New Zealand team in the Champions Trophy final, and they will need to put their thinking caps on to nullify his threat and score runs against him. With experience of playing against him in their group-stage match and the ability to adapt to different conditions and opposition, the Kiwi batsmen may be able to develop a strategy to counter Chakaravarthy’s attack. However, Chakaravarthy’s experience in Indian domestic cricket and his ability to spin the ball both ways make him a formidable opponent, and the New Zealand team will need to be cautious when facing him.
