Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Mar 5: Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara believes wrist spinner Varun Chakravarthy could play a decisive role in India’s efforts to contain England captain Harry Brook in the semi-final of the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday evening.
Brook has been one of England’s key performers in the tournament, scoring 228 runs in seven innings at an average of 32.6 with a strike rate of 162. However, his head-to-head record against Chakravarthy has been challenging, with the Indian spinner dismissing him three times while conceding just 28 runs in 18 balls in T20 internationals.
Pujara pointed out that while Brook scores most of his runs on the leg side, he remains capable of attacking deliveries on the off side as well. Therefore, bowlers must balance statistical data with an understanding of the batter’s strengths.
“If you see, the majority of his runs are on the leg side. However, someone like Harry Brook is also strong on the off side. So it’s not just about the data—you also need to consider the batter’s strengths,” Pujara said while speaking on JioHotstar.
He suggested that bowlers should keep the ball aimed at the stumps to increase the chances of a dismissal if Brook misses his shot. According to Pujara, Chakravarthy’s variations—especially his googly—make him particularly dangerous against the England skipper.
“Whenever he creates room on the off side, that’s where he is slightly vulnerable. Varun will be the most dangerous bowler against him because Brook likes to play the sweep and slog sweep. If he is given any room, the googly can come back in and hit the stumps,” Pujara explained.
Pujara noted that two of Brook’s dismissals against Chakravarthy have been bowled, highlighting the importance of attacking the middle and off stump line rather than bowling wide deliveries.
Meanwhile, England will also be hoping for a turnaround in form from veteran wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler. In the current tournament, Buttler has managed just 62 runs at an average of 8.9 and a strike rate of 107.
Despite the slump, Pujara cautioned against underestimating the experienced batter in a knockout match. He said Buttler’s long experience in the T20 format makes him capable of delivering under pressure.
“You cannot count Buttler out. He is one of the most experienced batters in the England team, and once he is set he is not afraid to play his shots,” Pujara said, noting that a player with more than 4,000 runs in T20 cricket knows how to handle pressure situations.
Pujara also highlighted the anticipated duel between Buttler and India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. He suggested Bumrah should bowl at least one over within the first three overs to challenge the England opener early.
According to him, Bumrah could trouble Buttler by bowling deliveries around an eight-metre length or slightly shorter, similar to the delivery that led to Buttler’s dismissal against Lockie Ferguson earlier in the tournament.
Pujara added that Bumrah’s wide range of variations, including his deadly yorker and slower ball, gives India a strong tactical advantage if the back-of-a-length deliveries fail to produce results.