Team India went wicketless for 53.1 overs during the middle-overs phase in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. How can they overcome this challenge, and what are their possible options?
India have secured their place in the semi-finals of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy with convincing victories over Bangladesh and Pakistan. While these wins may appear one-sided, a notable weakness has been masked in both matches—India’s struggle to take wickets during the middle overs (11 to 40).
For the record, India went wicketless for a combined 53.1 overs in the middle phase of both games before finally dismissing Mohammad Rizwan in the clash against Pakistan. In fact, India failed to take a single wicket in the middle overs against Bangladesh. The team conceded an average of 85.66 runs per wicket in this phase during the ongoing tournament. In contrast, India took 16 wickets at an average of 25.87 during the middle overs in their recent 3-0 ODI series win against England. Read More: Virat 'Chase-master' Kohli: Dissection of his match-winning knock against Pakistan
Do India genuinely have a problem breaking partnerships in the middle overs? Or is it simply a phase where their bowling attack goes through the motions while batters look to consolidate and minimise risks?
Team India lack variety in the bowling attack
It could also be that India lack variety in their bowling attack, which hampers their ability to secure breakthroughs in the middle overs.
Should India consider altering their bowling combination and bring in bowlers who can strike during this crucial phase with clever variations? Would adding variety to the attack make a difference?
After getting accustomed to India’s one-dimensional bowling approach, both Bangladesh and Pakistan batters managed to build crucial partnerships in the middle overs, while India struggled to break through. Fortunately for India, these stands did not cost them the game.
If India seek variation, there are no better options than Varun Chakravarthy and Arshdeep Singh, both of whom could provide the much-needed X-factor in the bowling attack for their third game against New Zealand.
The case for Arshdeep Singh replacing Harshit Rana
Harshit Rana has not performed poorly to warrant being dropped for the next game against New Zealand. However, India need a genuine wicket-taking bowler like Arshdeep Singh, who can bowl at any stage of the game and pick up crucial wickets, even in the middle overs, with his variations.
Arshdeep’s prowess with the new ball in the shorter format is well known. However, he can also be a tricky bowler to face in the middle overs, thanks to his variations, clever changes of pace, and disciplined line and length. Additionally, alongside Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep has the ability to reverse swing the ball when it gets older.
His left-arm angle and ability to generate movement could make a significant difference in the middle overs, adding much-needed variety to India’s bowling attack. Read More: CT 2025, PAK vs IND, Group A: Kohli delivers 51st hundred; India a step closer to SF spot
The case for Varun Chakravarthy replacing Kuldeep Yadav or Ravindra Jadeja
Kuldeep has performed well for India in the ongoing tournament. However, India need another spinner who can dominate the middle overs, applying pressure and denying the opposition any room to settle. Varun Chakravarthy, with his mystery spin, can pose a serious challenge to batters who struggle to read him. He is in the form of his life, consistently taking wickets in T20Is. India would benefit from utilising Chakravarthy’s unpredictability in the middle overs to gain an edge.
Chakravarthy could potentially replace Ravindra Jadeja, though that would come at the cost of batting depth. However, India boasts a strong batting lineup, and instead of strengthening their lower order—where No. 7 or No. 8 batters often face only a few deliveries—India could include Chakravarthy in place of Jadeja. Additionally, Axar Patel has been preferred over Jadeja in both bowling and batting.
Having too many bowlers with similar skill sets can make the attack one-dimensional. Adding Chakravarthy alongside Kuldeep and Axar would bring variety to India’s spin department, making the bowling unit more dynamic and a greater threat in the middle overs. Read More: CT 2025, IND vs BAN, Grp A: Gill anchors India's chase after Shami fifer restricts Bangladesh to 228
Comments