R Ashwin has just one advice for Team India captain Rohit Sharma and that is to give the new ball to Varun Chakravarthy against Travis Head in the first semifinal against Australia, which will be played in the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Against New Zealand, Varun Chakravarthy did most of the damage as India won the match by 44 runs on Sunday. Chakravarthy took 5 for 42, his first five-wicket haul in only his second one-day international.
“New ball and give it to Varun and ask him to bowl over the stumps to Travis Head,” Ashwin said on his Hindi Youtube channel “Ash Ki Baat.”
“Travis Head shows all his three stumps and then clears his leg and hit it over the field. Varun Chakravarthy with new ball might give India an edge. It will be a mouth watering contest,” he said.
Travis Head in action at the Champions Trophy (AP Photo)
Ashwin has said the battle between Travis Head and
Will Travis Head take on Varun Chakravarthy will be the key match up in the semifinal.
“I would be very surprised if Travis Head will take on a back seat against Varun. He would love to go aggressive and it will high-risk option. Either he will give Australia good start or India will get him out cheaply.
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“If Travis Head doesn’t take him on, then keeps Varun on for five overs.
“This Australian team has too many right-handedness and for that we have Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel.
“If I am India then I won’t be worried about this bowling line-up of India.
India’s Varun Chakravarthy bowls a delivery during the ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between India and New Zealand at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (AP)
“Win the toss, put them to bat. Give them the responsibility to set the total. If we get Travis Head’s wicket then it will be India’s game to control.
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“If India will bat first, there is no doubt in my mind that India will score above par score unless Spencer Johnson bowls a fiery first spell.
“India will go in the game as a favourite with this spin choke but Australia will have nothing to lose.
“If new ball will be given to Varun then I don’t see Head scoring more,” he said.