Under a blazing Chennai sun at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Varun Chakaravarthy sent down a determined spell in optional nets on Wednesday. After a difficult outing against South Africa in Ahmedabad, the mystery spinner is eager to make amends when India face Zimbabwe in the ICC T20 World Cup Super Eight Group 1 clash on Thursday.
Only a handful turned up for training, including batter Tilak Varma, reflecting a calm but focused build-up. For the Men in Blue, it is a must-win encounter as they aim to uphold their status as defending champions.
India’s campaign has largely been steady, but the recent stumble against the Proteas exposed vulnerabilities. Captain Suryakumar Yadav and his squad will hope that performance proves to be an exception rather than a trend, especially with the tournament entering its decisive phase.
There could be tweaks at the top of the order, with Sanju Samson in contention as India search for a solid start. Opener Abhishek Sharma has endured a lean patch, though the team management continues to back him publicly. So far, India’s batters have not clicked collectively, relying instead on scattered individual contributions.
Among the bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah has stood out with his incisive spells, while vice-captain Axar Patel could return to the playing XI. The loss to South Africa was one of India’s poorest recent T20I displays, making a swift turnaround essential.
Net Run Rate adds another layer of pressure. India sit low in the standings and must ensure both batting and bowling units operate in sync. Their semifinal hopes could also hinge on the outcome of the West Indies versus South Africa clash later on Thursday.
Zimbabwe, led by Sikandar Raza, have shown flashes of brilliance despite a heavy defeat to the West Indies. They stunned Australia and co-host Sri Lanka earlier in the tournament. Batter Brian Bennett has been among the runs, while seamer Blessing Muzarabani has claimed 11 wickets so far.
India will also be wary of history. Zimbabwe famously upset them during the 1999 World Cup in England, a reminder that complacency can be costly. With a semifinal berth within reach, Suryakumar’s men know that anything less than a commanding performance could bring their title defence to an abrupt end.
