MATCH STORY
Follow UsDefending 124 against South Africa at St George’s Park in Gqeberha is not ideal for any spinner to think about going in to bowl. But not Varun Chakaravarthy, who is relishing every outing for India in what could be called his second coming in international cricket.
Having taken three wickets in the first match of the series, the off-spinner was at his lethal best when brought into the attack in the sixth over of the innings. In his first over itself, he removed Aiden Markram with a slider.
From thereon, there was no stopping him, showing wizardry that made the Proteas batter even sweat for singles. The Tamil Nadu spinner built up enormous pressure, prizing out three wickets in his first three overs.
After the first five overs, India and South Africa were 35, with the Indian team losing three wickets compared to the Proteas' two. After ten, the situation was India 70/5 and South Africa 66/4. But it was the 13th over that shifted the game in India’s favour, with Chakaravarthy picking up David Miller and Heinrich Klassen.
Miller was beaten by turn as his off stump was knocked over by Chakaravarthy, who was bowling around the wicket. A classic off-spinner's dismissal. And it was a classic outing for the spinner as well, who finished with figures of 5/17, his best in T20s and fourth best by an Indian bowler in T20Is.
Second-coming for Chakravarthy
The Chakaravarthy who got picked into the Indian team in 2021 was someone who was hard to get away, and, as a result, picked wickets. However, his short run with Men in Blue was far from successful. He got just two wickets in his first six matches. He was unsurprisingly dropped from the team.
Now, in his second stint with the senior Indian side, Chakravarthy has already taken 13 wickets in his first five outings despite going wicketless in one game.
If these five matches were supposed to be the first five for Chakaravarthy, he would have the best start to an international career for any Indian bowler in T20Is. Incidentally, the bowler with the most wickets after his first five matches for India is also from Tamil Nadu. L Balaji took 10 wickets in his first five T20I outings.
Gambhir-driven growth!
Chakaravarthy certainly has a spring in his steps, and he looks more relaxed and settled. Credit must go to the new Indian management led by former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor Gautam Gambhir.
Chakaravarthy, who took 20 wickets even in IPL 2023, was not someone even in contention to be considered for an India return.
But just after adding 21 wickets to his tally in the 2024 edition of the cash-rich league, he was back in the side. The math doesn’t do justice to explain the change in Chakaravarthy’s importance as a bowler that grew enormously in one season, or maybe just six matches.
In his last six (completed) matches in IPL 2024, the mystery bowler picked 13 wickets. In all those matches except one, his economy rate did not go above 6.5, giving a clear indication that he was back at his usual best.
The change implemented by Gambhir, who is widely known as the bowler’s captain and now mentor, was seen in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) 2024 as well. Chakaravarthy’s economy remained below 7.5 in seven out of the 10 matches.
It was thanks to this consistency and belief that the Bidar-born was recalled to the Indian set-up for the Bangladesh series. And so far, he has not looked back. Though India finished second-best in the second T20I of this series, Chakaravarthy is clearly back at his best with the ball in hand, bowling as well as he ever has.
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