Varun Chakaravarthy (Getty Images)

MUMBAI: Wednesday’s nets session was an optional one, but Varun Chakravarthy was out there, alongside bowling coach Morne Morkel, slogging it out in searing heat.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The focus throughout the session, and during the mammoth one that India put in on Tuesday evening, was on the length he needs to hit against England in the semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.

Varun started the T20 World Cup campaign with a bang, ending the four-match group stage with nine wickets at a strike rate of 8. But in the Super Eights, while bowling against stronger opponents, he was found somewhat wanting. In the three games, he took just two wickets at a strike-rate of 24 and conceded 10.16 runs per over, which is much higher than his career economy rate of 7.23. He finished with figures of 1/47 against South Africa, 1/35 against Zimbabwe and 1/40 against West Indies.Against South Africa, David Miller, Dewald Brevis and Tristan Stubbs showed the courage to take on the mystery spinner. As a result, he erred in his line and length—bowling a bit short or fuller when put under pressure—which brought him into the batters’ arc to hit him down the ground or either side of the wicket. The story repeated against the West Indies in the last match at the Eden Gardens, with Shimron Hetmyer and Jason Holder going after the Kolkata Knight Riders’ spinner. When the batters took him on, they curtailed his ability to apply the squeeze in the middle overs and take wickets to keep the opponents on the mat.

Varun is still among the top-five wicket-takers in this edition with 12 scalps, but teams seem to have dissected his variations, especially the googly, which has been his go-to delivery to take wickets. Almost 75% of his wickets in T20Is have come with the googly. When he has bowled the googly at pace, rival batters have played him as an incoming bowler and tried to hit him straighter. When he has got one to turn away, batters have backed themselves and adjusted.With the likes of Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks in their ranks, England will take a cue from Varun’s outings against South Africa and West Indies, make use of the shorter boundaries and put the 34-year-old under pressure.During the media interaction, Morkel revealed that discussions with Varun centred around getting “clarity” of his plans a day ahead of the match and “allowing him to walk away feeling good about his body”.“With the variations that Varun’s got, he’s got the ability to take a wicket with almost every ball. So, the discussion was that if he goes for a boundary, the aim is to move on to the next one and make sure he commits to that next ball. He’s hard to pick once you walk into the crease. So, for him it’s just about getting that confidence into the ball, getting his speed, his length and control right,” said Morkel.

Jasprit Bumrah of India celebrates the wicket of Shimron Hetmyer of West Indies during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India & Sri Lanka 2026 Super 8 match between India and West Indies at Eden Gardens on March 01, 2026 in Kolkata, India. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

TimesofIndia.com in Mumbai: The mercury reached uncomfortable levels on Wednesday, with weather forecast apps flashing a “danger of dehydration and heatstroke if outside for extended periods of time” warning. There were occasional moderate breezes, but they were not strong enough to make it a pleasant afternoon. The pitch baked under the harsh sun for most of the day, and the ground staff gently rolled it to keep it game-ready for the semi-final between India and England.From a distance, it seemed to have a nice green tinge, but it was the typical misleading sub-continent green. Its only role was to bind the surface together and prevent it from deteriorating and drying more than normal. The centre strip naturally drew the most attention when the two teams trained on the eve of the match, and both camps hummed similar tunes as they expect it to offer plenty of runs. When India trained two days before the match, light dew started settling on the outfield, but it was not alarming. However, the sudden shift in the weather pattern could make it another talking point.

India bowling coach Morne Morkel delved deeply into the subject, explaining at length why the extra bounce at the venue is a double-edged sword. Having played and watched a lot of cricket at the Wankhede, Morkel asserted that margins here are smaller than at most venues because the “ball travels.”“Look, I think the dew is always a big concern. But that’s again something you can’t control, which is the toss. I think here at Wankhede there’s always that extra bit of bounce. Guys can trust the bounce and hit through the line. But in saying that, that can also, as a bowler, bring you into the game. I just felt, or feel, that the margins here are a lot smaller, the ball travels. It’s quite a small ground. So, yeah, you just need to be really fighting for that over, stay in the moment and compete every ball because, like I said, a batter’s strength can also be his weakness on this surface. So it’s sometimes not to go too defensive and to keep attacking, because opportunities can come,” said Morkel in the pre-match presser.The last time India played England at this venue, they won by 150 runs. In that game, Abhishek Sharma smashed a 54-ball 135, including 13 sixes and seven boundaries, and the opener later picked up two wickets to seal an emphatic win. The stakes, however, are different this time because this is not an inconsequential bilateral fixture but the semi-final of the T20 World Cup.Harry Brook-led England have aced different conditions to progress to the semi-final stage, and Morkel is wary of the challenges they bring to the table. The former South African cricketer felt that the team which holds its nerve, reads the conditions well and is quickest will probably be the one that flies to Ahmedabad.“Playing against England, they’re a team that’s street smart. Obviously, there’s a lot of quality in their side, batting quite long and deep, which makes them a very dangerous side. And then with the ball also, they’ve got wicket-taking options. I think the way they approach a T20 game, fearless and trying to take the game on, will give you opportunities and makes them a dangerous side. So I feel tomorrow is going to be a good shootout between two aggressive teams. And the side that can hold its nerve, play the conditions, read some of the conditions quite well and be the quickest, I reckon, will come out on top,” added Morkel.Neither team has had a perfect game in the tournament so far. The two-time champions will collide in front of a capacity crowd, and the outcome will depend on who aces the challenge. India have had their moments, sealed important junctures in games and managed to win all matches except the fixture against South Africa.The heavy defeat in Ahmedabad set them back, making their remaining games virtual knockouts, and Suryakumar Yadav and Co. have responded well to the challenges they faced. Against Zimbabwe in Chennai, there were signs of the batting unit coming together, but there were early hiccups against the West Indies in Ahmedabad before Sanju Samson dropped anchor, and what a performance it was.The focus, however, will not be the batters but on India’s x-factor Varun Chakravarthy, who single-handedly destroyed England in the five-match T20I series. Varun returned with a haul of 14 wickets, and England’s batters remained clueless against the mystery spinner. The tournament began strongly for Varun, but he seemed to lose his rhythm in the Super 8 stage. The habit of picking up a wicket in every game has continued, but the penetration has not been the same, especially since the hammering he received from South Africa in Ahmedabad.The day before the match, he returned to his routine of bowling at a single stump, and the entire support staff rallied around him as the spinner completed his drills. The coaching staff had normal conversations with Varun, ensuring he walked away feeling good about his bowling. He is an important player who could be the difference between the two sides in the high-pressure fixture on Thursday.

“I keep telling him that in our bowling lineup, with the skill and variation Varun has got, he has the ability to take a wicket almost every ball. So if he goes for a boundary, he has not executed as well as possible. For him it is just about moving on to the next one and making sure he commits to that next ball. I think he’s a highly skilful guy, hard to pick once you walk to the crease. So for him it is just about getting that confidence with the ball, getting his speed, length and control right, and not trying to overthink it. I think with Varun at times, to his credit, he wants to be a big performer for the team, so he puts a little pressure on himself. But, yeah, he’s a match-winner for us, and for him it is just to stay and bowl every ball and make sure it is his best ball,” said Morkel.India have managed to deal with pressure in their last two must-win games. They must embrace that same approach for two more matches if they are to become the only side in the world to win a T20 World Cup at home and defend the title. The shootout at Wankhede is the first challenge.

Morne Morkel and Albie Morkel (IANS Phoro)

NEW DELHI: When India take on South Africa in their opening Super 8 clash of the T20 World Cup at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, the spotlight will not only be on the players but also on an extraordinary family duel unfolding behind the scenes.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!For the first time on such a stage, brothers Morne Morkel and Albie Morkel will stand in rival camps, serving as India’s bowling coach and South Africa’s consultant respectively, each tasked with plotting the other’s downfall in a high-stakes rematch of the 2024 final.

In a video shared by the BCCI, Albie summed up his mission with a smile and a warning. “Specialist consultant is a mouthful. In short, I have to figure out ways to beat Team India on Sunday. That’s it,” he said. “We actually coached together in our first stint; that’s where I shaped him to be a very good bowling coach. Showed him how to do it.”Morne acknowledged the intense expectations that come with his role but stressed the strength of India’s support system. “As a bowling coach, there’s always a lot of pressure on you. But we’re quite lucky that in our group, there’s a lot of experience… people that can assist and help you in that mental load,” he said.Despite the personal connection, both brothers made it clear that sentiment will not dilute their professional focus. “He works for India, I work for South Africa, and we both have the same goal — to win that game on Sunday,” Albie said. “The family will do the banter. We’re very calm and professional.”Their rivalry, however, dates back to childhood. “Most of the backyard games ended up in either argument or tears,” Albie laughed. “I remember him crying a lot because he was the youngest.”Both sides enter the contest unbeaten, raising the stakes further.

India’s Shivam Dube celebrates his half-century (ANI Photo)

Ahmedabad: For someone who would get picked for team India only if Hardik Pandya got injured and who even was struggling to find a place in the Mumbai team for one season, Shivam Dube has come a long way. His ability to tonk the spinners for big sixes earned him a recall for the 2024 T20 World Cup, with the selectors preferring him over well-known finisher Rinku Singh.

In the 2026 T20 World Cup, the Mumbai and Chennai Super Kings allrounder is turning out to be a ‘silent’ (not in the limelight), but violent (highly explosive) hero for India. In a tournament where India’s top order has largely struggled to get going against spinners, Dube’s impactful presence and contributions are worth their weight in gold. On Wednesday night at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Dube enhanced his credentials as a premier power-hitter in world cricket with a match-winning knock of 66 off just 31 balls, which included half a dozen powerfully struck sixes, against the Netherlands in India’s last league stage match of the T20 World Cup. Unlike the modern T20 specialist batter, Dube doesn’t look to improvise much. Standing still at the crease, the Mumbaikar employs his long levers, timing, and raw power to give the ball a good whack if it is pitched in his arc. Coming into this game, the 32-year-old had produced crucial cameos of 23 (off 16 balls) and 27 (off 17 balls) against Namibia and Pakistan in his previous two outings in the 2026 T20 World Cup. In the build-up to the T20 World Cup, Dube had hammered 65 off 23 balls against New Zealand in the fourth T20I at Vizag last month. On Wednesday, Dube took time to get his eye in and was slightly fortunate to survive a close lbw appeal, which was reviewed by the Dutch, off off-spinner Aryan Dutt. He scored just six off 11 balls before exploding in typical fashion. “It was a little tough on the wicket, but this is the situation I love to bat and I was enjoying it, although I was under pressure for some time. The offspinner [Colin Ackermann] bowled really well to me and four dot balls, a good over from my side, but I knew that I’m going to cover up later. [Some balls] were skidding as well as keeping low. One of the balls spun as well. So, for me, it was like, yes, I can hit him, but at that time the situation demanded something else. So, I had to play at that time,” Dube said at the post-match press conference on Wednesday. Since he knows he has the ability to unleash big sixes, Dube doesn’t get fazed by a few dot balls while starting off. “Yes, obviously when you play dot balls in T20, you feel pressure. But as a player, as a batsman, I know at that time that maybe right now if I am at 2 runs in 10 balls, in the next 5 balls, if I hit two sixes, it will be covered. So that thought always stays in my mind. Yes, the wicket was gone so it is important that we build partnerships, so for that even if 2-4 balls are dot balls it is fine, but later it gets covered,” said Dube, radiating a smile after bagging the Player of the Match award. A few years back, Dube carried an unwanted reputation of being someone who would be uncomfortable against the short ball and genuine pace. However, over time, the left-hander worked on improving his weakness, turning into a better player each year. On Wednesday, he smashed three sixes off Dutch pacer Logan van Beek. Quizzed about how he climbed the learning curve and removed his drawbacks, Dube said, “When you play in those situations, you learn. So, I have become a little smart in that situation. I know, yes, this bowler can come to me on this ball, or a fast bowler can bowl short or slower balls – I’ve worked on those things. And now I’m getting better. Game awareness is important and it has gotten better from my side,” Dube said. “When I [first] came to CSK [Chennai Super Kings], there was something I was struggling with. It was important to come back strong, because I know I can dominate. I worked really hard on the short ball. I knew it’s not going to be easy [to make the changes], but I had to give it extra time and play extra balls. That’s what I did.” “I know all the bowlers, they’re going to [try and] block me as well,” Dube said. “They’ll not bowl me yorkers or length balls. They’re going to come short. They’re going to bowl me slower balls. So I prepared myself, so I was waiting for that. When I came today, it was not that I can take the strike rate high [immediately], but at some time there was something I thought, this is the time I can go now. I knew today was my day.” Until the 2024 T20 World Cup, Dube’s strike rate against pace in T20Is was 134, but now it’s gone up to 172. Aware that pacers are going to aim to give him some ‘chin music’, Dube is ready for the challenge. “I know all the bowlers, they’re going to [try and] block me as well,” Dube said. “They’ll not bowl me yorkers or length balls. They’re going to come short. They’re going to bowl me slower balls. So I prepared myself, so I was waiting for that. When I came today, it was not that I can take the strike rate high [immediately], but at some time there was something I thought, this is the time I can go now. I knew today was my day,” Dube said. Beaming when told that this was his maiden T20 World Cup fifty, Dube chose to bat for some of his hyped-up teammates as well. “It’s about who has the day,” Dube said, striking a philosophical tone. “I think in our team all of us are match-winners, anyone can hit big sixes on any day, and I felt today is the day, so I need to be a little smart, push myself, stay till the end, but I also need to regain my strength as well. That’s what I did. That’s why I’m a power hitter,” Dube said. Besides his batting, Dube’s bowling – thanks to many useful sessions with bowling coach and former South African pacer Morne Morkel – has also improved significantly. After his heroics with the bat, he took two for 35 in three overs on Wednesday night. Reflecting the team’s confidence in his seam bowling, skipper Suryakumar Yadav turned to Dube when the Netherlands needed 28 in the final over. The Dutch got 10, and Dube took a wicket.

Albie Morkel (L) with South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada during a training session at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. (PTI)

NEW DELHI: Ahead of their final Group D encounter against the United Arab Emirates, South Africa’s specialist consultant Albie Morkel brought a touch of humour to the press conference. Asked if he exchanges coaching ideas with his younger brother and Team India bowling coach Morne Morkel, the 44-year-old initially put on a serious face before breaking into a grin and saying, “No, we don’t talk to each other (laughs). I think my mother is more worried than us. She doesn’t know who to support, India or South Africa.”With South Africa facing India in their first Super Eight contest at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, the “rivalry” between the Protea brothers will be something worth keeping an eye on.

Since Morne took over as India’s bowling coach as part of head coach Gautam Gambhir’s support staff, some of the team’s individual pace-bowling performances have noticeably improved. His behind-the-scenes work with players like Shivam Dube has refined the player’s role in the side.Albie, three years older than Morne, appears to be settling into his position as a specialist consultant with South Africa, which, according to the former fast-bowling all-rounder, is primarily bowling-oriented.“Yes, it has been an interesting term, specialist consultant. I had to figure it out myself a little bit. But of course, it’s anything that helps the team do well in the World Cup. I do a bit of both batting and fielding, mostly focused around the bowling for now. I do some work with our all-rounders, swingers, and stuff like that,” Albie, who was brought into the role just before the T20 World Cup, explained.His work with the pacers has paid dividends for the 2024 T20 World Cup runners-up, with fast bowlers accounting for most wickets, including two all-rounders.

South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada bowls a delivery during the T20 World Cup cricket match between South Africa and United Arab Emirates in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Even as Kagiso Rabada (two wickets in four matches) has struggled for rhythm, Lungi Ngidi (8 wickets), Marco Jansen (7 wickets), and Corbin Bosch (5 wickets) have kept the pace attack formidable.“It’s a privilege to be with a team with such incredible fast bowlers. The standards between the entire bowling lineup is really, really high. And it’s something we feed off well off each other,” Bosch, the Player of the Match for his figures of 3/12 agaist the UAE, told reporters during the post-match press conference.“I think this is the first time we’ve all played as a collective, so it’s still getting to know how we operate as a unit. But we’ve done fantastically so far, and there’s no extra pressure.”

South Africa’s Corbin Bosch bowls a delivery during the T20 World Cup cricket match between South Africa and United Arab Emirates in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Listening to Bosch, there is a clear indication that Albie has already made an impact in this short time, and from Albie’s own words, it is evident he knows what he is doing off the field.“Look, I think we first have to start where our guys play their T20 cricket most in South Africa. And the wickets there, how do I put it nicely? It’s not the best suited for T20 cricket. So guys get away with a lot in South Africa,” he said.“When you get over here (in India), especially at this time of the year, where the wickets are still good before the summer, your variations, your slow balls and all those type of things, they don’t play such a big role.“So it’s really focusing on nailing your yorkers. And I feel that’s a skill that’s sort of disappeared, not only with us, but with most teams in the world. If I ask who’s the best death bowler in the world, you can probably name one, Jasprit Bumrah. He has got a very good yorker.”