India’s Varun Chakravarthy in action during the 3rd T20I cricket match between India and England at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on Tuesday, January 28, 2025.
| Photo Credit: VIJAY SONEJI
Varun Chakaravarthy is a match-winner.
The 33-year-old has won 10 of his 16 T20Is for India, playing a significant role in most of those victories.
Eighteen of his 29 scalps have come in successful outings for the Men in Blue as his impeccable line and length, combined with the mystery element, worked wonders.
However, Varun also holds an unwanted T20I record as he became the first player to have multiple five-fors coming in a losing cause.
His five for 24 against England in the third T20I here went in vain just as his five for 17 did against South Africa at Gqeberha in November 2024.
Varun, however, aptly attributed the unlucky stat to the fickle nature of the shortest format.
“I can’t complain because that’s the nature of the game. Even when I don’t take five wickets, we might end up losing. My job is to keep focusing on what I can do and only that is in my control,” Varun said in the post-match press conference after England’s 26-run win at the Niranjan Shah Stadium on Tuesday.
Varun’s reply to a question on the Indian batters’ slam-bang approach not coming off also focused on the part-and-parcel theme.
“The last match went close. We could have ended up losing that and we could have won this one. T20 is supposed to be aggressive. You can’t complain much as it is a very result-oriented game. This is the brand of cricket that the Indian team wants to play and we are doing it well.”
Varun also gave a huge vote of confidence for Ravi Bishnoi, who had a difficult outing (one for 46) on Tuesday.
“Bishnoi is a top-class bowler. I went for 38 runs in the last match (in Chennai) and he conceded just 27. No one can be judged with just one game… I can write and give you that Bishnoi will make a great comeback in the next match,” Varun emphasised.
The Tamil Nadu spinner has been vocal about the effort he put in to create a menacing weapon out of his over-spin deliveries. He underlined he won’t go cold on his endeavour, especially now that he is on a hot streak.
“The work doesn’t stop because consistency needs constant work. As in, even if I can bowl a stock ball, I need to keep working on it and keep pushing it.
“I need to get nine-on-ten consistency, and that work is always going to be there.”
Published – January 29, 2025 07:20 pm IST
