India’s ace T20I spinner, Varun Chakravarthy, opened up about the adjustments that contributed to his stellar Player of the Match performance in the first T20I against England at Eden Gardens.
The Secret to Chakravarthy’s Success
Known for his mysterious variations, Chakravarthy revealed that he has been focusing on varying his pace to keep batters unsettled.
“I’ve worked on trying to vary my pace. I don’t want batters to line me up because I’m bowling at the same speed every ball. That’s what I’ve worked on, and I’m trying to perfect it further,” he said during an interview on Disney+ Hotstar.
Key Highlights from the First T20I
- Early Momentum:
India won the toss and chose to bowl. Arshdeep Singh set the tone with a fiery opening spell, removing Ben Duckett and Phil Salt in quick succession. - Chakravarthy’s Impact:
- Exploiting the bounce rather than relying solely on turn, Chakravarthy adapted to the Eden Gardens surface brilliantly.
- His decisive over came when he broke England’s building partnership, dismissing Harry Brook for 17 and Liam Livingstone for a duck in the same over.
- He later claimed the prized wicket of skipper Jos Buttler, who top-scored with 68 off 44 balls.
Chakravarthy ended his four-over spell with outstanding figures of 3/23, restricting England to a modest 132.
Chakravarthy’s Tactical Approach
Rather than sticking to a turn-heavy strategy, Chakravarthy relied on:
- Bounce: Adjusting his trajectory and pace to extract bounce off the pitch.
- Googly: His signature delivery remained a potent weapon, confusing batters.
- Deceptive Speed Variations: Keeping batters guessing and unable to settle into a rhythm.
Match Recap
- England’s Total: 132/10
Despite Buttler’s valiant effort, England failed to set a competitive target. - India’s Chase:
Powered by Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 79 off 34 balls, India comfortably chased down the target with seven wickets in hand and 43 balls to spare.
Chakravarthy’s performance reaffirmed his status as a key player in India’s T20I setup, with his innovative approach and adaptability continuing to pay dividends.