Ahmedabad, March 7 – As defending champions India prepare for a second consecutive final in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, where they will face New Zealand, concerns are being raised about the recent poor performance of mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, who conceded 1-64 in four overs against England in the semi-final.
However, on the eve of the summit clash, India captain Suryakumar Yadav dismissed these concerns, emphasizing that Varun is the team's most potent weapon and the highest-ranked bowler in the ICC T20 rankings. The 1-64 figures in the semi-final are the most expensive Varun has ever conceded in a T20I match, and he had a 1-40 figure against the West Indies in the previous match. The mystery spinner seems to have found his rhythm after taking nine wickets in the league phase.
"There's nothing to worry about. We've won the match. It's a team sport. Everyone gives their best. It's a collective effort, and that's how you win. Once we win, we don't focus on anyone. But the team keeps fluctuating. There are 11 players, and everyone has good days. Everyone can have ups and downs. The others are there to support. I'm not worried about that. He's the number one bowler in the world. He's a world-class bowler and knows how to win matches. He will definitely do that," Suryakumar Yadav said in the pre-match press conference in Ahmedabad.
The Indian captain also expressed concern about the Indian batters' struggles against off-spin bowling (India has lost 15 wickets to off-spin). He said they haven't discussed this extensively.
"We haven't discussed it at all. If we're playing the final with a strike rate of 120, then I'd prefer to play with a strike rate of 120. There's no problem with the team. We do have conversations sometimes, but we don't pay much attention to them. On a given day, if a batter performs well against a bowler, then it's important to go out there and bat and meet the team's requirements. We're doing that.
"In the last game (against England), you saw that two left-handers went in. An off-spinner was playing, but Ishan batted well against him, as did Dube and Tilak Verma. So, there aren't too many conversations. And at this stage, I don't think we should think so much. Now, if two spinners come in the final tomorrow, we will have to play them – we can't just walk away. So, we will handle it tomorrow," said Suryakumar Yadav.
Yadav, who won the title under Rohit Sharma's captaincy in 2024, will be captaining the team in the final for the first time, and that's a special feeling, especially on home soil. He admitted that there would be some nerves, but added that pressure is a necessary part of the game.
"I mean, it's obviously a special feeling that I'm going to lead tomorrow, and as I said, leading such a wonderful team into a final, especially on home soil. That's always a special feeling. I'm very excited. Of course, there will be nerves. There will be butterflies in my stomach, but as I always say, where there's no pressure, there's no fun. I'm also very excited, and all the boys and support staff are excited. I'm sure the whole of India is excited for tomorrow.
"We just want to keep everything very simple, not too complicated. We've been trying to do a lot of good things, and we're trying to continue doing those things. I think the six years I've spent with India have been a very long and rewarding journey. As I said, leading India, especially in such a big event, is a huge honour. I'm very happy. I'm also very happy for my family, and everyone else. So, yeah, very excited," said the 35-year-old from Mumbai, who is considered the leading batter in this format in the world.
Asked about his process for handling pressure, Suryakumar said it's all about staying calm in tight situations.
"I think handling pressure is all about how calm you are in tight situations. For example, I think, I know it's not easy, but when you're in practice sessions, when you're training, at that time, if you put a lot of pressure on yourself, taking those difficult catches, batting in different situations, thinking about that, and being mentally prepared during practice sessions.
"When you go into the game, you know you've done all these things in practice. So, these things are really important. And obviously, talking to each other – it feels like a proper family, so you can turn to any player or support staff – because even the support staff has been in similar situations before when they've played this game of cricket. So, talking to each other helps a lot to stay calm and composed, and that's how you make the right decision. Because two people or one bowler, they're the best judge of what needs to be done when they're on the field, whether they're batting or bowling. So, at that time, a positive decision is always the best option, and that's what we've been following," said the Indian captain.