Varun Chakravarthy's Emotional Journey

Varun Chakravarthy is known for his reserved demeanour and a lack of flamboyance, both in his words and actions. During IPL post-match interviews, the broadcasters often have to coax responses from him. In a sport where bowlers are often associated with memorable celebrations—like Imran Tahir’s boundary sprint or Kevin Sinclair’s somersault—Varun’s reactions remain understated and hard to recall.

However, after taking 3 for 31 against Bangladesh in the first T20I in Gwalior, Varun admitted to feeling emotional. Returning to the Indian team after three years, he expressed that the experience felt like being “reborn.”

Those familiar with Varun’s journey describe him as intense, someone who takes everything to heart. This intensity became evident in June when he shared his frustration on Instagram after being overlooked for India's T20I squad in Zimbabwe. He vented his feelings with a post saying, “I wish I had a paid PR agency!” It might have seemed like Varun was out of contention for a spot on the Indian team, having last played in 2021, but this was India's secondary squad following the T20 World Cup. The selectors were looking to introduce fresh talent, rewarding IPL 2024 stars like Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Tushar Deshpande. for their standout performances.

Varun, too, had a strong case for selection. He was the second-highest wicket-taker in IPL 2024, securing 21 wickets in 15 games and playing a pivotal role in Kolkata Knight Riders’ title win. In a season where the tournament economy rate was 9.56, Varun's frugal rate of 8.04 made him a key asset. The previous season, he had claimed 20 wickets in 14 games with an economy of 8.14. His frustration over being left out, therefore, was understandable.

Varun had debuted for India in T20I in 2021, and after just three matches, he was included in the squad for the T20 World Cup. His selection was likely a strategic one since the tournament was being held in the UAE, a venue where he had excelled during IPL 2020 and 2021. Ravi Shastri, the then-India coach, remarked during a recent match that Varun seemed slightly nervous at the World Cup. Unfortunately, in the three matches he played, Varun failed to take any wickets, and following a lacklustre IPL season the following year, he faded from the spotlight.

Critics began questioning his fitness, his ability to adapt, and whether his "mystery" had been decoded. But Varun didn’t give up. He worked on his bowling, adjusted his run-up, modified his action, and improved his legbreak. His efforts paid off, as no other bowler has taken more wickets than him in the last two IPL seasons.

This hard work culminated in his selection for the Bangladesh T20I series. It’s possible that Gautam Gambhir, KKR’s mentor during the IPL and now India’s head coach, had a hand in his selection. Regardless, Varun did not disappoint.

He began his spell in the fifth over with a googly. He almost dismissed Towhid Hridoy with his second delivery, but debutant Reddy, running in from deep square leg, dropped the catch and allowed the ball to roll for four. Varun, visibly frustrated, tried to hide his emotions by covering his face with his hands.

The next ball was too short, and Hridoy punished it for another boundary. To make matters worse, Najmul Hossain Shanto finished the over with a reverse sweep for six. What could have been a fairytale return now saw Varun with figures of 1-0-15-0. Reflecting on the moment, Varun later mentioned that while the catch didn’t go in his favour, that’s just the nature of T20 cricket. He felt the reverse sweep was played off a good ball but acknowledged that these things happen in the game. His feelings, he said, were a mix of emotions.

However, redemption wasn’t far away. In his next over, Hridoy misjudged another short delivery and handed an easy catch to long-on. The Bangladesh batters struggled to read Varun's variations, and in the following over, his googly breached Jaker Ali’s defence. Varun capped off his performance by dismissing Rishad Hossain, who top-edged a legbreak to deep midwicket, earning Varun his best T20I figures.

Reflecting on his return to the Indian team, Varun acknowledged that the past three years had been tough. Whenever a new series was announced and his name was absent, it only fueled his determination to make a comeback. To achieve this, he threw himself into domestic cricket, approaching each game with full intensity, regardless of its level.

During this challenging period, Varun’s family remained his biggest support. He shared how they had endured his emotional lows and how crucial their presence was in his journey. Besides his family, Varun credited the Tamil Nadu cricket board, his TNPL team Dindigul Dragons, and IPL team KKR for helping him improve his skills.

Varun also spoke about how he transformed his bowling style. He used to rely on side-spin but gradually shifted to over-spin. This minor technical change took over two years to perfect. He tested it in the TNPL and later in the IPL, refining his craft.

Despite his strong comeback, Varun knows his place in the Indian side isn’t guaranteed. With spinners like Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, and Washington Sundar in the mix, competition is fierce. However, Varun views this rivalry as healthy. He mentioned how Ravi Bishnoi was one of his biggest supporters, offering encouragement during the match. Varun appreciated this camaraderie and believed that such competition drives them to push each other. In his opinion, at any given time, the best player will lead India to victory, making the competition essential.

As he spoke about Bishnoi, Varun allowed a rare smile to break across his face, signalling that, for now, he has found contentment in his cricketing journey.