India’s Fielding under Fire: Varun Chakravarthy on the ‘Ring of Fire’ Affecting Team’s Performance in Asia Cup
Team India has been cruising comfortably in the ongoing Asia Cup, including a resounding 41-run victory over Bangladesh in the Super Four clash. Despite their dominant run and sealing a spot in the finals, a critical issue continues to loom large over the team: fielding lapses. India has dropped 12 catches throughout the tournament, nine of which occurred in just the last two matches, raising mounting questions about the team’s fielding standards.
Varun Chakravarthy, a key spinner for India and someone directly impacted by these fielding errors, openly acknowledged the seriousness of the situation. “You can’t give excuses at this level. As a team, we definitely have to start catching all those chances because we look like we will be qualifying for the finals, and we should be taking those catches,” he stated candidly after the win against Bangladesh.
What Varun and others in the team identified as a contributing factor to the lapses is something called the “ring of fire” at the Dubai International Stadium. This peculiar feature apparently interferes with the players’ vision during catches, sometimes becoming a distraction. Chakravarthy highlighted, “It comes in the eyesight sometimes and it’s a little bit of disturbance. We have to get acclimatised to it.”
The fielding coach, T Dilip, is expected to have firm words for the team following these performances. Chakravarthy noted that while the coach kept quiet after the last match, he will likely be more vocal after these continued lapses. The team has been selected with a clear mission extending through to the World Cup, and impeccable fielding is a non-negotiable part of that plan, according to the spinner.
Regarding the playing conditions, Varun found the pitch at the Dubai International Stadium to be fresher and more batting-friendly than earlier wickets in the tournament. Contrasting it with the pitches faced against teams like UAE, he said, “Definitely, this pitch is fresher, much better. It was not too paced, and it was coming on to the bat very well.”
Chakravarthy’s journey in the tournament has been notable. After a challenging start, he made a strong comeback by adapting subtly to how the ball behaved through the innings. Early on, the ball was skidding on, but as it aged, he managed to get more grip from the wicket. “Other than that, they definitely played me well in the powerplay,” he admitted with a smile.
From a spinner’s perspective, bowling on these pitches poses its own set of challenges. Chakravarthy points out that in the powerplay or just after, the wicket offers little assistance. However, as the game progresses and the field spreads out, spin becomes more effective. This shiny insight into the tactical dimension of bowling adds depth to understanding cricket strategies in the Asia Cup context.
Confidence is key to Chakravarthy’s approach, especially during the high-pressure powerplay overs. His focus is on attacking and trying to take wickets, even if it means going for some runs. “The aim is always to keep on attacking and look for that one ball that turns a little and edges it,” he explained.
Beyond his immediate performance, Chakravarthy has revealed the dedication behind the scenes. After the IPL, he featured in the Tamil Nadu Premier League and took a brief break to focus on practice—particularly working on his batting, which he considers a current priority. This shows his commitment to becoming a more rounded cricketer beyond just his spin bowling.
With India’s final spot secured, the team will next face Sri Lanka, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting and competitive finale. As India works on sharpening their fielding and building on their strengths, all eyes will be on how they handle the pressures of the final and whether they can overcome the challenges posed by elements like the “ring of fire.”
This tournament has already highlighted crucial areas of improvement, and with players like Varun Chakravarthy leading the charge, India is poised to bring a more polished and dynamic performance in the days ahead.
