In the high-stakes arena of the 2025 Champions Trophy, India has found a potential game-changer in the form of Varun Chakravarthy. The “mystery spinner,” of India is known for his variations with the ball, has emerged as a crucial asset, particularly as India progresses through the important matches in the tournament.
Chakravarthy’s journey to this important role has been anything but ordinary. His ability to deliver a diverse range of deliveries, including off-breaks, leg-breaks, googlies, and his signature “carrom ball,” has consistently troubled opposition batsmen.
Chakravarthy had a perfect redemption story in Dubai during his ICC Champions Trophy debut as he overcame his horrific ICC T20 World Cup 2021 outing at the same venue and registered a memorable five-wicket haul against New Zealand in his side’s final ICC Champions Trophy group stage match on Sunday.
A late but impactful entry
Chakravarthy’s entry in the Champions Trophy squad was a talking point, particularly following an injury to Jasprit Bumrah. The Indian team management, seeking an “X-factor,” turned to the in-form spinner. His recent strong performances in T20Is solidified his position, making him an undeniable option.
His performance against New Zealand highlighted his importance. His ability to take crucial wickets at critical times has provided the Indian team with a distinct advantage. Chakravarthy’s unique style of spin bowling provides a significant challenge to batsmen. His ability to disguise his deliveries makes him difficult to judge, adding a valuable dimension to India’s bowling attack.
Varun’s fifer in his second ODI, is the earliest by an Indian bowler in his ODI career. The previous earliest was of Stuart Binny, who picked 6/4 against Bangladesh in Mirpur in 2014 in his third ODI.
Also, behind Jadeja’s 5/36 against West Indies in CT 2013, this is the second-best bowling spell by an Indian in Champions Trophy history.
Speaking after his match-winning spell, Varun recalled being nervous initially due to lack of ODI experience with India but talks with Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer and Hardik Pandya helped him get better as match went on.
Tiyasa is an enthusiastic journalist with a passion for uncovering the truth and stating them in a compelling story. Whether it's chasing a breaking news story or crafting a deeply researched feature, she believes in the power of words to inform, entertain, and inspire. Apart from writing, she has a passion for learning different languages. When not chasing the deadlines, you can find her engrossed in either books or drama or listening to music, maybe even brainstorming for her next article over a cup of coffee.
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