As India sealed a crucial 44-run victory over New Zealand in their final group-stage match of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, former Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu shared his thoughts on the team’s performance. With this win, India secured their spot in the semi-finals, and Rayudu was particularly impressed by the collective effort, especially from the spinners, who played a pivotal role in dismantling the Black Caps.

The standout performer of the match was Varun Chakravarthy, who made an immediate impact in his first appearance of the tournament. Replacing Harshit Rana in the playing XI, the mystery spinner delivered a sensational spell, claiming 5/42 and earning the Player of the Match award. Rayudu was full of praise for Chakravarthy’s evolution as a bowler.

“Varun was outstanding today. Early in his career, he struggled with consistency in his lines and lengths, but now he has developed into a bowler who is incredibly difficult to face. His action naturally gives the illusion of left-arm spin, but in reality, almost 90% of his deliveries are googlies. That makes it tough for batsmen, especially those who haven’t faced him before. I don’t think many New Zealand players had experience playing against him, and he made the most of that advantage. He will only get better for India,” Ambati Rayudu said on JioHotstar.

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Rayudu also pointed out the selection headache Chakravarthy’s performance might create for India heading into the semi-finals. “With so many match-winners in the squad, the team management has a tough decision to make. But Chakravarthy has certainly made a strong case for himself. Jadeja was exceptional as well, and all four spinners executed their plans brilliantly. The pitch certainly played a role, but New Zealand’s struggle against spin was evident, and that’s something they’ll have to address.”

Aside from the bowlers, Ambati Rayudu also highlighted the importance of Shreyas Iyer’s innings. The right-hander played a crucial knock of 79 off 98 balls, rescuing India after an early top-order collapse. His 98-run partnership with Axar Patel was instrumental in India’s recovery.

“The No. 4 position in ODIs is crucial, especially when the team loses early wickets. On tricky surfaces like this, you need someone who can absorb pressure and rebuild the innings. Shreyas did exactly that. He played short balls well, handled the spinners effectively, and his shot selection was excellent. His ability to judge the pace of the pitch better than most others in the lineup was remarkable. He’s been phenomenal in this role, but we don’t talk about him enough. His contribution was massive today,” Ambati Rayudu noted.

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Rayudu also acknowledged the significance of Virat Kohli’s 300th ODI appearance, though it wasn’t the fairytale outing many had hoped for. Kohli, who was expected to deliver a big innings on his landmark occasion, was dismissed for just 11 runs after Glenn Phillips took an extraordinary diving catch to send him back.

“You could see the hunger in his eyes. Virat always rises to the occasion, and today was a big milestone. Unfortunately, Glenn Phillips pulled off something spectacular to cut his innings short. It was just one of those moments where luck wasn’t on his side. But knowing Virat, he will channel this hunger into something big in the semi-finals. We all want to see him at his best, and we know he thrives under pressure,” Ambati Rayudu added.

Looking ahead to India’s semi-final clash against Australia, Rayudu pinpointed a crucial contest that could define the game. “The battle to watch will be between Adam Zampa and Virat Kohli. Virat has had some trouble against leg-spinners recently, but given his form in this tournament, I expect him to rise to the challenge. This match is going to be a high-stakes encounter, and we’ll need our best players to step up.”

With the semi-final showdown against Australia looming, Team India will be eager to put in another dominant performance and move one step closer to lifting the Champions Trophy.