Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has identified a potential solution for dealing with Travis Head. India is scheduled to compete against Australia in the semifinal of the 2025 Champions Trophy on Tuesday at the Dubai International Stadium. Ashwin believes that mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy could address India's persistent challenges in international cricket.

Chakaravarthy delivered an outstanding performance on Sunday during India's final group match against New Zealand. In just his second One Day International for India, the Tamil Nadu bowler remarkably claimed five wickets, leading to a 44-run victory and ensuring India's unbeaten status in the Champions Trophy.

In a discussion on his Hindi YouTube channel 'Ash Ki Baat,' Ashwin elaborated on the strategy to counter Head, recommending that India’s captain Rohit Sharma employ Chakaravarthy during the powerplay and instruct him to bowl over the stumps.

"Utilize the new ball and hand it to Varun, asking him to bowl over the stumps to Travis Head," he stated. "Travis Head exposes all three stumps and then clears his leg to hit the ball over the field. With a new ball, Varun Chakaravarthy could provide India with a significant advantage. It promises to be an exciting contest."

'Travis Head will either give Australia a good start or...'

Ashwin expressed his belief that Head is likely to take risks against Chakaravarthy due to his aggressive nature. He advised Rohit to continue utilizing the spinner during the powerplay if the Australian opener adopts a more cautious stance against the new ball.

"I would be quite surprised if Travis Head opts for a conservative approach against Varun. He is inclined to play aggressively, which presents a high-risk scenario. He could either provide Australia with a strong start or be dismissed cheaply by India. Should Travis Head choose not to challenge him, it would be prudent to keep Varun on for five overs," Ashwin remarked.

"This Australian squad features a significant number of right-handed batsmen, which is where we can rely on Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. If I were in India's position, I would not be concerned about our bowling lineup. Winning the toss and opting to field first would place the onus on them to set a target. Securing the wicket of Travis Head would significantly enhance India's control over the match.

"If India bats first, I am confident they will achieve a score above par, unless Spencer Johnson delivers an exceptional opening spell. India will enter the match as the favorites, leveraging their spin attack, while Australia will have little to lose."

Read Also: Rohit Sharma Explains Rishabh Pant's Role in Champions Trophy Despite Being Benched

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