Team India, having continued their unbeaten record with three wins in the group stage, has now qualified for the semi-finals as Group A leaders in the ICC Champions Trophy. India could manage just 249 runs on a mediocre pitch, achieving a big win against the Kiwis and reaffirming their continuous dominance. 9 of the 10 wickets in the 205-allout score from New Zealand fell to the spinners of India’s bowling unit. In its wake, India has set a new record in the Champions Trophy while breaking a long-standing record of Pakistan.
With 9 of the 10 Kiwi wickets going to Indian spinners, Rohit Sharma’s men now hold the record for the most wickets by spinners in an innings of a Champions Trophy match, surpassing Pakistan’s eight against Kenya in 2004.
India’s spin dominance against the Kiwis now presents the team management with a huge dilemma ahead of the semi-final clash against Australia. India deployed four spinners in their last match in Group B, with pacer Harshit Rana being sidelined.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri feels the team should play the same combination against the Australians in the semi-final.
“I think I would go with the same eleven now because the turnaround time is less than 48 hours. The square is a little tired at the moment; people have run on the pitch that is going to be used the day after, so the spinners will again come into play,” said Shastri in the Instagram video on ICC’s page.
Shastri starts gushing about Chakaravarthy, who made his Champions Trophy debut in that match.