Varun Chakaravarthy, a surprise pick for India’s Champions Trophy squad, made headlines for an unexpected mistake in his debut match against New Zealand. While fielding, he misjudged a catch, leading to four extra runs, visibly frustrating Hardik Pandya. The match, played on a slow Dubai pitch, saw India struggle early but recover to post a competitive total.
- Varun Chakaravarthy needs better fielding awareness under pressure.
- Hardik Pandya’s no-ball proved costly with the extra runs conceded.
- Shreyas Iyer’s knock helped India recover from early setbacks.
- Matt Henry’s five-wicket haul was the game-changing performance.
Varun Chakaravarthy’s Costly Blunder
During the fourth over, Hardik Pandya overstepped, giving New Zealand’s Will Young a Free Hit. Hardik bowled a slower delivery, which Young mistimed. The ball went high behind mid-on, and Chakaravarthy rushed to catch it but miscalculated. Instead of stopping the ball, it deflected off his leg and rolled to the boundary.
Hardik Pandya’s Reaction
Hardik Pandya, known for his aggressive approach, remained silent but his frustration was evident. The misfield added unnecessary runs to New Zealand’s tally at a crucial moment.
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Match Summary
- Toss: New Zealand won and chose to bowl first.
- India’s Start: Struggled at 30/3 early on.
- Shreyas Iyer’s Role: Scored a fifty to stabilize the innings.
- Final Score: India managed to reach 249 runs.
- Matt Henry’s Performance: Took five wickets, putting New Zealand in a strong position.
India now faces a tough challenge, with New Zealand holding the advantage. Chakaravarthy will need to redeem himself in upcoming matches to justify his selection.
Check out the Champions Trophy Stats
