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When India and England play at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday, star spinner Varun Chakravarthy will perform in front of his home audience. Chennai will welcome another local spinner, this time in the T20I format, months after R Ashwin retired. Varun has made a name for himself as a vital member of the T20I squad and is in excellent form going into the match.
Varun on Ashwin
Varun Chakravarthy responded that it was unreasonable to compare him with a veteran like Ashwin who played all three formats and claimed more than 500 Test wickets when asked if he saw a chance to carry on Ashwin's legacy as a Tamil Nadu frontline player in the Indian squad.
"Comparing him to me is big. Ashwin has played all three formats. I am just making a comeback. I haven't reached a stage where I can be compared to him. But still, everybody, when they make it to the Indian team, wants to play for a long time. I am following my process. Let the hard work take me where it can. It's better that way. I am not thinking about filling someone's shoes. Ashwin's shoes are big to fill. He has taken 500-plus Test wickets. I am not even close yet," Varun said ahead of Chennai game.
With three wickets in India's seven-wicket victory against England, Varun got off to a great start in the T20I series. He dismissed Liam Livingstone and a composed Harry Brook as he swept through England's middle order.
He later came back to dismiss Jos Buttler, who was trying to give the innings a late boost with a fifty. Since returning to the T20I squad in 2024 after almost three years away, Varun has been working to establish himself as a mainstay. Since his return, he has made an impression in South Africa by taking 20 wickets in seven T20Is.
