Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has backed the inclusion of Varun Chakravarthy in the Champions Trophy semifinal against Australia. Chakravarthy replaced Harshit Rana in the last group stage match against New Zealand at Dubai on Sunday and justified his selection with a five-wicket haul as India registered a 44-run win on Sunday.

Chakravarthy was playing only his second ODI but continued his rich form in the white-ball format. The mystery spinner had scalped 14 wickets in five T20Is against England while playing at home.

The 33-year-old returned with impressive figures of 5-42 and played a key role in skittling out the Kiwis on 205 after India posted a fighting score of 249 runs on the board. Chakravarthy accounted for Will Young, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, and Matt Henry.

Shastri highlighted that Australia hasn’t seen much of Chakravarthy and he could trouble the Men in Yellow with his guile and variations.

“Varun has put his hand up and delivered. He has put himself in contention for a spot in the XI in the semi-final,” Shastri said after the match on Star Sports.

“It’s the right balance for this surface. You still have all the bases covered with the way Hardik is bowling. You have to see who gives you wickets in those middle overs. Varun Chakravarthy becomes crucial. I don’t think Australia have seen much of him. And he is a good man to pick, as he was today,” he added.

Varun’s impressive performance will certainly give a selection headache to the team as Harshit Rana also performed decently in the first two games against Bangladesh and Pakistan. Furthermore, the conditions in Dubai are suited for the spinners and thus India could think of playing the same XI against Australia.

India will take on Australia in the first semifinal at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on Tuesday.