Team India reached the final of the Champions Trophy 2025 where they will take on New Zealand as well. However, New Zealand are worried about Varun Chakaravarthy who made headlines with his stunning shows as well.

“So, look, we certainly expect him to play after getting 5 for 42 against us in the last game. And yeah, we’ll be planning our, I guess, intentions around that as well,” Gary Stead, the New Zealand coach, said.  “There’s no doubt he’s a class bowler. He obviously showed his skills against us last time and he’s a big, big threat in the game. So, we’ll be putting our thinking caps on how we nullify that and how we can still score runs against him,” Stead said. “I think when you have a wrist spinner like that, then you’re looking for cues as a batsman. And I think it’s always a little bit easier when you’re in the daylight to see those things.”

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However, the coach was clearly hinting that New Zealand could bat first, should there be an option. Stead further opined on the Chakravarthy factor in the final as well.

“I think the pitch that we played on in the first game was quite different to the way that the semifinal played against Australia. So, again, it’ll be something we have to read on the day and adapt to what’s going on within the match. But, yeah, all our batsmen will have their individual plans around how they want to combat them, and then it comes down to, I think, good communications in the middle and sometimes a little bit of bravery to take those options on. So, we’re certainly up for that. We’re up for that challenge of what India will bring, and we know that they’ve got four very capable spinners.”

Meanwhile, in the semifinal against Australia in Dubai on Tuesday (March 4), Chakaravarthy finished with 2 for 49. One of his victims in the match was Travis Head, whom he dismissed in his first over as well.