'The good thing about time is it changes.' India's 33-year-old mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy could relate to the motivational quote. Dubai wasn't kind to Chakravarthy when he played in T20 World Cup 2021. He was wicketless in India's first World Cup defeat across formats against Pakistan. He was wicketless against New Zealand too as India were knocked out of the tournament. After much criticism, the spinner who started his career at 26 did not give up. His hard work and perserverance paid off as more than three years later, he befriended the Dubai track and grabbed a five-wicket haul on ICC Champions Trophy 2025 debut.
After the match-winning performance, Chakravarthy admitted that he was nervous but captain Rohit Sharma and senior campaigners Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya helped calm his nerves.
"Yeah, of course, in 2021, we didn't have a - I didn't, personally, I didn't have a great tournament here. But I do feel that I did bowl decently. But the results were not our way. But it looks good right now. And Team India is doing well. And the combinations have set very well, so it feels good," Varun said in the post-match press conference.
"And yeah, of course, the first spell of mine I was a little nervous because the previous things, the emotions and all were playing, whatever happened in the last three years before in this ground. Where a little bit, it was playing with me and I was trying to keep it down, control it. But Virat bhai, Rohit, and even Hardik, they were telling me to calm down, calm down. They were coming and talking to me. That really helped," he added.
How Vijay hazare Trophy helped Chakravarthy
Chakravarthy credits Vijay Hazare Trophy for helping him improve his game in 50-over format as his approach in T20s totally different.
"In T20, my sequencing of balls - as in how I construct an over - is totally different compared to the 50-over format," Varun said. "And that I was able to figure out when I played the last two years in Vijay Hazare Trophy. And it really helped me to understand when I can bowl my incoming delivery or outgoing delivery or the straighter one or the top spin - whatever it is. But that gave me a sense of awareness of when to bowl what. It is completely different from what I do in the T20," said the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) spinner.
Chakravarthy who replaced pacer Harshit Rana in the playing XI has put himself in contention for the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal against Australia. Former head coach Ravi Shastri has backed him to play in the knockout match as well. Meanwhile, skipper Rohit revealed he is yet to think about the playing XI for the semifinal on March 4 but it is a good headahce to have.
