India bowling coach Morne Morkel believes spinner Varun Chakravarthy has the skill to turn the game in India’s favour during their T20 World Cup semi-final against England, urging the mystery spinner to trust his abilities and avoid overthinking.
Speaking on the eve of the match at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, Morkel described the contest as a potential “shootout” between two aggressive teams at one of the tournament’s best batting venues.
“I feel tomorrow is going to be a shootout between two aggressive teams,” Morkel said. “England are a very street-smart side. They bat deep, they play fearlessly and try to take the game on.”
While England’s batting line-up has not consistently fired in the tournament, they remain dangerous with players like Harry Brook and Will Jacks capable of producing match-winning innings. Morkel said India’s bowlers must adapt quickly to conditions if they are to contain England’s attacking approach.
A key figure in India’s plans will be Chakravarthy, who impressed in the early stages of the tournament with nine wickets in the first round. His form dipped slightly in the Super Eight stage, where he conceded 122 runs in 12 overs while picking up three wickets.
Despite that, Morkel expressed complete faith in the spinner’s ability to strike at any moment.
“I keep telling Varun that with the skill and variation he has, he has the ability to take a wicket almost every ball,” Morkel said. “If he goes for a boundary, it’s just about moving on and committing to the next delivery.”
Morkel added that the main challenge for Chakravarthy is maintaining confidence and focusing on his control and execution.
The bowling coach also spoke about the role of allrounder Shivam Dube, who may be called upon to deliver a couple of overs if England target India’s main bowlers. Morkel stressed that smart decision-making will be crucial for Dube when he comes under pressure.