Ravichandran Ashwin has praised India’s decision to bring in Varun Chakravarthy for their final Champions Trophy group-stage match against New Zealand. The veteran off-spinner believes that captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir made a smart tactical move by including the mystery spinner in the playing XI. Varun proved his worth, delivering a match-winning five-wicket haul that led India to a crucial 44-run victory. Ashwin, speaking on his YouTube channel, highlighted how the team management read the Dubai pitch well and backed the right player for the conditions. Initially, many were surprised when Varun was picked ahead of Harshit Rana, but his performance silenced all doubts. Ashwin pointed out that Chakravarthy’s bowling put immense pressure on key Kiwi batters, especially Daryl Mitchell, who struggled to read his variations. Ashwin said, “It was top-class planning and execution. They did not let Mitchell step out or find space for his shots. The field placements cut off his scoring options completely.” Varun’s ability to deceive batters with his unpredictable deliveries made him a nightmare for New Zealand. His control over pace and turn made it difficult for them to judge his deliveries, leading to his best ODI figures so far. A Key Weapon for the Semi-Final With India set to face Australia in the semi-final on March 4, Ashwin believes Chakravarthy will play a crucial role. The Dubai pitch has favoured spinners, and Ashwin feels that Australia will be working hard to find a way to counter Varun’s mystery spin. Ash added, “I don’t think playing Varun is a risk. The batters are struggling to read him. His deliveries are dropping with high revs, making him even more dangerous. This is unbelievable skill.” Varun was a late inclusion in the Champions Trophy squad, replacing Yashasvi Jaiswal. Despite having limited ODI experience, he has shown that he can be India’s X-factor in the knockout stage. With the Aussies known for their attacking play, India will be banking on their mystery spinner to turn the game in their favour.