Varun Chakravarthy seems to share a karmic bond with the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. It was here in 2021 that then-India coach Ravi Shastri first recognized his potential, calling him a match-winner and advocating for his inclusion in the Test squad for the Australian tour.
However, that same year, he endured a nightmare at the same venue. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan dismantled him as Pakistan cruised to a 10-wicket victory in the T20 World Cup. Later, when asked to open the bowling against New Zealand, he went wicketless, his so-called "mystery" appearing to have lost its edge.
Fast forward to Sunday night, and Varun Chakravarthy was a man transformed. With India fielding an experimental lineup featuring four spinners and just one specialist pacer, Chakravarthy seized the opportunity, claiming a stunning five-wicket haul. His spell helped India secure a 44-run win in a low-scoring contest, finally putting his 2021 demons to rest.
"Yeah, of course, in 2021, I personally didn't have a great tournament here. But I do feel I bowled decently. The results just didn’t go our way. But it looks good right now, and Team India is doing well," Chakravarthy reflected.
Across his 10 overs, he dismantled the New Zealand batting lineup with his variations, leaving India’s team management contemplating whether to include him in the upcoming semifinal against Australia. "He has something different about him, so we wanted to see what he can offer. We haven’t thought much about the next game yet, but it’s a good headache to have," said captain Rohit Sharma.
New Zealand pacer Matt Henry, who also bagged a five-wicket haul, was equally impressed. "Oh, he bowled beautifully, didn’t he? The way he turned the ball both ways and varied his pace was brilliant," Henry remarked.
New Zealand, chasing a modest target of 250, seemed in control at 93 for 2. But as their captain Mitchell Santner acknowledged, India's quartet of spinners applied relentless pressure, with Chakravarthy leading the charge.
The Enigma of Varun Chakravarthy
Chakravarthy remains an enigma, even to his teammates. Rohit Sharma has admitted that the spinner doesn’t reveal all his variations, even in the nets. He guards his mystery closely, ensuring batsmen struggle to read him.
On Sunday, though, he was willing to share a glimpse of his craft. "Basically, the ball can go inside, outside, or straight. But there are minute changes that you can make," he explained. His deliveries, however, are far more complex than he makes them sound. His subtle grip changes, drift, and pinpoint accuracy make him incredibly hard to pick—especially when the conditions favor him, as they did in Dubai.
His five wickets on the night might not have been his best deliveries, but they showcased his impact. Will Young played onto his stumps, Glenn Phillips fell to overambition, Michael Bracewell was trapped LBW (controversially), Mitchell Santner was undone by a seam-up delivery, and Matt Henry perished trying to accelerate. Yet, it was Chakravarthy’s other 55 deliveries—the ones that built pressure and sowed doubt—that truly set up his success.
"Yeah, I think I can do better," he said post-match. "But I wouldn’t call it luck. Every ball was planned. In cricket, anything can happen."
From T20 Specialist to ODI Weapon
At 33, Chakravarthy is primarily a product of T20 cricket, where batsmen are forced to take risks against him. ODIs present a different challenge, as batsmen have more time to adjust. However, he has adapted by honing his skills in the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy.
"It helped me understand when to bowl my incoming, outgoing, or straight deliveries. The 50-over game is completely different from T20s. It took me a lot of matches to figure it out," he admitted.
Now, with a match-winning performance under his belt, Varun Chakravarthy has not only redeemed himself in Dubai but also thrown his name into the mix for bigger challenges ahead.
Varun Chakravarthy Ki Dubai Mein Wapsi – Ek Redemption Kahani
Varun Chakravarthy aur Dubai International Cricket Stadium ka ek ajeeb rishta lagta hai. 2021 mein yahi par, India ke tab ke coach Ravi Shastri ne unhe pehli baar dekha tha aur unko "match-winner" declare karke Australia tour ke Test squad ke liye recommend kiya tha.
Lekin usi saal, isi maidan par unka sapna bikhar gaya. T20 World Cup mein Pakistan ke against, Babar Azam aur Mohammad Rizwan ne unki bowling ki dhajiya uda di, aur Pakistan ne 10-wicket se match jeet liya. New Zealand ke against bhi unka spell be-asar raha, aur unka "mystery" spinner wala tag dull lagne laga.
Lekin Sunday raat ka scene kuch aur tha! India ne ek experimental team utari thi jisme sirf ek fast bowler tha aur char spinners. Varun Chakravarthy ne moka lapak liya aur apni mystery dobara dikhayi, 5 wicket lekar New Zealand ki batting line-up ko hilakar rakh diy
