Dubai:India's spin quartet has achieved remarkable success in the Emirates. Each member brings a distinct strength to the team, effectively compensating for one another's weaknesses throughout the 50 overs.

Ravindra Jadeja, the most experienced among them, also stands out as the fittest. Varun Chakravarthy, the newest addition, presents a mystery with his bowling, although he is considered a liability in the field. Kuldeep Yadav offers a unique style of left-arm wrist spin, a rarity in the cricketing world. Meanwhile, Axar Patel employs the most conventional spin techniques, skillfully incorporating subtle variations.

It remains uncertain whether this quartet will unite again in the future. It is unusual to witness such extensive spin bowling in an ODI format. The Dubai segment of the Champions Trophy has arisen from a combination of circumstances, including consecutive tournaments in Dubai that have worn down the pitches, along with India's matches being scheduled for reasons beyond mere competition.

India has adeptly capitalized on the prevailing conditions, not only by participating but also by optimizing their approach.

Finger spinners generally exhibit superior control with the new ball. Axar is accustomed to bowling in the early overs during T20Is, and Rohit Sharma has placed significant trust in the left-arm spinner during the Powerplay. Axar made an immediate impact in the tournament, nearly achieving a hat-trick in his first over against Bangladesh, thwarted only by a dropped catch. He has also maintained an economical bowling rate.

Yadav is recognized as India's most effective ODI bowler during the middle overs; however, for this tournament, Rohit has assigned Jadeja to handle those responsibilities. All of Jadeja's overs have occurred in the middle phase of the innings, yielding four wickets with an economy rate of 4.78 and an average of 38.25. His most impressive performance came against Australia on what was considered the most batting-friendly pitch in Dubai.

Yadav's performance has been noteworthy. In the semi-final match against Australia, he was entrusted with the new ball to confront the likes of Steve Smith, Travis Head, and Marnus Labuschagne. Among the Indian spinners, the left-arm wrist-spinner has been the most utilized during the death overs, claiming 4 wickets in 10.3 overs while maintaining a respectable economy rate of 5.52. However, he has faced challenges in securing wickets during the middle overs, managing only 1 wicket in 23 overs across 4 matches.

Is this a matter of concern? R Ashwin does not believe so. “Yes, Varun Chakravarthy is exceptional. But do not overlook the value of Kuldeep Yadav,” he remarked on his YouTube channel. “Please do not evaluate his bowling solely based on wicket counts.”

Chakravarthy has indeed set a high standard. The mystery spinner has effectively bowled in various phases, consistently taking wickets while remaining economical. In just two matches, he has surged ahead of his fellow spinners in the wicket-taking statistics.

“Varun Chakravarthy’s unique style is currently a significant factor. His bowling is effective because he brings an X factor to the game. This is why opponents are cautious and reluctant to take risks against him,” Ashwin noted.

Whenever they have attempted to take risks, they have struggled. The New Zealand batsmen found it challenging to read him, making survival difficult on a pitch that favored spinners. Chakravarthy's mystery deliveries proved to be a handful for New Zealand. In the match against Australia, Travis Head was dismissed on the very first ball he faced from Chakravarthy, skying a catch to long-off.

India's spinners have not only bowled the majority of the overs—125.3 compared to 68.5 by pace bowlers—but they have also done so effectively across different phases of the game. Should India achieve the desired outcome on Sunday, this Dubai journey will stand out as a career highlight for each of the spinners involved.

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