T20 World Cup: Varun’s knee injury becoming hindrance: India is all set to take on arch-rivals Pakistan in its first game of the ongoing T20 World Cup but the team composition is still a matter of concern. With Hardik Pandya, not bowling, India is in need of five specialist bowlers. Varun Chakravarthy was seen as a regular but Virat Kohli has plans to use him only in crunch matches to avoid aggravating injury.
The Indian team management is working closely with the medical team to keep a check on Varun’s knee injury which he sustained during the IPL 2021 and is planning on using him judiciously. Sources in the know of developments have told ANI that the team management has decided to use Varun only in crunch games.
T20 World Cup: Indian Team Management looking to save trump card Varun Chakravarthy for crunch games
“He is undoubtedly a match-winner in this format and the leadership group knows what four overs can mean in a big tournament like the T20 World Cup. The medical team has been working closely with him and Varun will be used judiciously. He is a trump card and Virat Kohli and the leadership group is looking to use him just like that,” the source said.
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Asked if that means he could be kept away from a game if the stakes aren’t high, the source said: “Yes, that is exactly what the idea is. While the team is looking to have his services as much as possible, it is also clear that his knees aren’t 100 percent. So, he will be used as per the demands of the tournament.
T20 World Cup: Indian Team Management looking to save trump card Varun Chakravarthy for crunch games
T20 World Cup: The source further revealed that Varun’s place in the playing XI will depend on the team’s situation. “If it is a must-win or big game, you will see him out there weaving his magic with the ball. If the team is well placed and you can afford to give his knees a bit of a rest, the team might do that. But yes, MS Dhoni and Ravi Shastri will be right there to guide Kohli and Rohit Sharma in such a scenario,” it said.
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