Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy must have heaved a sigh in relief after his impressive show on his India comeback after a three-year absence.
Varun Chakravarthy's stunning India comeback
Chakravarthy played an instrumental role in India's seven-wicket win over Bangladesh in the first T20I in Gwalior on October 6. The KKR spinner described the experience as feeling like a 'rebirth'. Chakravarthy's last international appearance was during the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE. The star spinner talked about the challenges he faced during his time away from the national team, including injuries.
Chakravarthy made a triumphant return to the Indian team, showcasing his exceptional skills with a match-winning performance. His three wickets for 31 runs in the first T20I against Bangladesh helped bowl out the opposition for a total of 127. India's powerful batting lineup then chased down the target with ease, securing a comfortable victory and taking a 1-0 lead in the series.
It was definitely emotional for me: Varun Chakravarthy
After leading India to an emphatic win in Gwalior, Chakravarthy said that he wants to stick to the process and stay in the present.
"After three long years, it was definitely emotional for me. Feels nice to be back in the Blues. It feels like a rebirth, I just want to stick to the process, that's what I have been following in the IPL as well, I don't want to go beyond what's there and I just want to stay in the present, that's why I don't want to think too much or express too much," Chakravarthy said after the match.
Varun Chakravarthy's special mention to Ravichandran Ashwin
Chakravarthy expressed his gratitude to Ravichandran Ashwin for his guidance and support during his time in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL). Ashwin's mentorship played a crucial role in Chakravarthy's development as a spinner.
"After IPL I played a few tournaments and one of those was TNPL, it's a very good tournament and of a high standard as well. That's a place where I work a lot, with Ash (Ashwin) bhai also, we won the championship as well, That gave me the confidence here. It was good preparation for me for this series," he said of Ashwin.
"(A dropped catch off his bowling in his 1st over) It could have gone my way, but that's how cricket is, I can't complain, thankful to God. There have been many (challenges), once you are not in the Indian side, people tend to write you off very easily. You need to stay at the highest level, again and again you need to keep knocking the door, thankfully this time it happened, hopefully I can keep continuing my good work," Chakravarthy concluded.
Talking about the match, in their first T20I at home since becoming World Champions earlier this year, Team India demonstrated precisely why they hold the 'Champions' title. After bowling Bangladesh out for 127 in just 19.5 overs on a pitch favorable for batting, the Indian batters made light work of the target. Openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma came out aggressively, with Sharma unfortunately running himself out while attempting a non-existent single. However, this wicket had little impact on India’s scoring rate. Captain Suryakumar Yadav showcased his 360-degree play, hitting three stylish sixes before departing for 29. Hardik Pandya emerged as the highest scorer of the match, amassing 39 runs off just 16 balls. He played a pivotal role in leading India to victory, hitting a massive six off Taskin Ahmed’s bowling to seal the win.
The second T20I between India and Bangladesh will be played on October 9.
