Despite a match-winning performance in the 1st T20I against England, Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy remains focused on enhancing his game further.
After being left out of India’s Champions Trophy squad, Kolkata’s local star returned to Eden Gardens with a vengeance, delivering a stellar spell to help India secure a seven-wicket victory.
A Mystery Spinner’s Comeback
In the first innings, Arshdeep Singh set the stage by dismissing England’s openers, Ben Duckett and Phil Salt, cheaply. Chakravarthy capitalized on the momentum, using his experience on the Eden pitch to stifle the English middle order.
“I am used to seeing such pitches in the IPL. I know that it is for the seamers, but I know there are certain lengths which are helpful for me. What I realised was I can’t beat batsmen with a side-spin. The only way I can beat the batsmen is through bounce,” said Chakravarthy after winning the Player of the Match award.
Key to Success: Bounce and Precision
Rather than relying on turn, Chakravarthy focused on extracting bounce and keeping the ball out of the batters’ hitting zones. This strategy worked wonders, as he dismissed Jos Buttler, Harry Brook, and Liam Livingstone, who were pivotal to England’s chances.
His spell broke a promising partnership between Buttler and Brook, dismissing the latter for 17 and sending Livingstone back with a two-ball duck in the same over.
When Buttler attempted to accelerate in the death overs, he was caught at deep square leg for 68 (44), sealing a brilliant spell for Chakravarthy, who finished with figures of 3/23 in four overs.
Striving for Perfection
Despite his impactful performance, Chakravarthy remains critical of his efforts.
“I am trying to keep it away from their arc, it was holding a bit. Every over, bowling in Eden is challenging. To bowl to batsmen like Jos and other guys is definitely challenging. The last over was very tricky and challenging, but by God’s grace, I was successful. I’m still 7 on 10, still more work to do,” he concluded.
Match Summary
England managed 132 runs in 20 overs, a target India comfortably chased down. Chakravarthy’s heroics played a significant role in India’s triumph, proving his worth as a key player in challenging conditions.