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IND vs BAN: For leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy Sunday was the day of his victorious comeback to Indian cricket after three years and this was during the first T20I against Bangladesh in Gwalior. His performances coupled with a stellar three-wicket haul have one again kindled excitement among supporters and selectors as well and hence the reason for classifying him as a great prospect from the national team.
Talking about his comeback Varun an offie from Tamil Nadu who is 33 years of age, felt that a change in bowling style was the only major difference that helped him regain his momentum. An erstwhile side-spinner Varun now bowls with over-spin a variation he insists has made all the difference for him in terms of control and effectiveness. This results in a higher bounce and turn and the two aspects were quite visible in his action while batting against Rajasthan.
As Varun so aptly pointed out over-spin is something which the legendary spinners have exemplified. As Nathan Lyon would say it makes your turn sharper and unpredictable bounce and sometimes deceives both the batman and the fielder alike. The mastery of the craft witnessed over there was seen in that stunning googly with which Jaker Ali was dismissed.
I was a side-spinner but now I have totally moved over to being an over-spinner,” Varun said. It is a minute technical aspect of spin bowling but it took me more than two years to get that right. While the mental approach also had to be sorted the major chunk of the effort I made was on the technical aspect,” he added.
It has finally come true for Varun after a daunting phase following his first season in the 2021 T20 World Cup. where he just couldn’t make an impact Though he went on to deliver brilliant domestic cricket and IPL over the past two seasons he didn’t get a game for India and that only fueled his desire to be back even stronger. Now on his way back into the blue jersey Varun feels rejuvenated as he describes his return as rebirth.
I told myself that I need to give it my all to make a comeback. So, I started playing a lot of domestic games and gave them the importance they deserved,” Varun shared. His dedication and hard work have surely paid off as his return to the international arena has been very successful.
Varun started the match against Bangladesh when Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hasan Shanto and Towhid Hridoy capitalized on the pressure early, pushing the run rate in the powerplay. The skipper Suryakumar Yadav showed faith in Varun once again by giving him the responsibility of another over With that the left-arm spinner arrested the promotion of runs and dismissed Hridoy to stabilize the bowling.
Yes in the first over the catch could have gone my way, but that is how T20s are played. The reverse-sweep six looked like a good ball, but it went for six so it is all mixed emotions,” Varun reflected on the challenges he faced in his initial overs.
While his last figures may be three wickets for 31 runs, it is sufficient in saying that he really made a strong contribution to the team’s outing while at the same time underlining India strength in bowling depth. His comeback happens at a time when leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi. who also came with some promise since the T20 World Cup was unavailable. In fact this very situation shows India’s great bench strength and how meritously it keeps the bowlers fighting each other to get into the XI.
There is good competition and there is good camaraderie as well,” Varun added to the supportiveness prevailing within the squad. Ravi Bishnoi was cheering me on and sending me messages. I cannot ask for more. It’s actually good to have such competition because it pushes everyone to improve. Someone will be better than others at one point in time and that will definitely benefit India in the long run.
Feels like rebirth: Varun Chakravarthy on dream comeback
This was emotionally very hard for me, after three years. It feel like a nice to be back in the Blue It feels like a rebirth. I must say Varun as quoted by broadcasters ‘Jio Cinema’ post the match, told, “Feels great to be back in the Blues. A great feeling it has been like rebirth Varun said For me, it is really not losing focus on the process that has got me here again. Looking at my consistency in IPL performances is something I can really work towards.
Against Bangladesh in what is arguably his return game Varun has displayed quite skillfully and with due experience the kind of bowling that really troubled the opposition batters who were simply unable to read his deliveries. Among these he clean bowled middle-order batter Jaker Ali with a beautifully delivered ball that turned sharply back in. This kind of display of skill only underlines Varun capabilities but also growth as a player during his time away from international cricket.
Though he is sitting pretty today Varun is earthy and taking his comeback a step at a time. I don’t want to go beyond what there I just want to stay in the present. That’s why I don’t want to think too much or express too much,” he said, exuding maturity by way of experience. He had played a bit after IPL in the tournaments like Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL). He rated that as a high-standard tournament and said it helped him be very ready for this series.
He has also learned a lot by working with some of the experienced players. Varun in particular had a talk about his association with the Indian off-spinner R. Ashwin in the TNPL. That’s a place (TNPL) where I worked a lot with Ash bhai. We won the championship together which gave me confidence for this series,” he noted. Such interactions with experienced players give one all the knowledge and techniques that can carry forward a person game.
Varun reflects on the game itself: he knows there always a crest and trough to cricket. He had a bitter taste of disappointment when a dropped catch came his way in the first over. which might have changed the drift of his spell altogether. It could have gone my way but that’s how cricket is.
I cannot complain; thank God,” he said, embracing the unpredictability of the sport. He confessed being out of the Indian side often culminates in people writing a player off too quickly. which he stated emphasized the need for resilience Once you are not in the India side to people tend to the write you off very easily You need to stay at the highest level and again and again you need to keep knocking on the door. Thankfully this time it happened,” he explained.
Varun Chakravarthy express true emotions on India comeback
Interacting with Jio Cinema after the match Varun Chakravarthy said an elation coursed through his veins to rejoin the Indian cricket team in three years. Return to the blue jersey, according to Varun Chakravarthy a 33-year-old leggie was much more than just going through a professional point the feeling was very deep and like “rebirth,” he described.
After three long years it was a definitely emotional for me. It feels like a nice to be back in the Blues. It feels like a rebirth,” Varun stated on the significance of returning to the field. He may have been away for a few years from the international stage but felt the need to hold onto focus and keep himself in the processes that he has stuck to in his career, specifically when he had been in the IPL.
I just want to stick to the process what I have to been following in the IPL as well. This commitment to his approach has been instrumental in his development as a player, allowing him to regain confidence and refine his skills. Varun also spoke about challenges he had while being benched by the national team. People tend to write you off very easily and once you’re not in the India side,” he said forthrightly. You will need to stay at the highest level and keep knocking on the door.
Thankfully this time it happened he said, indicating the robustness one needs in order to remain steadfast in the vicissitudes of a professional cricket career. The comeback to the national side was not one journey of physique but also upwelling in mental firmness. Varun’s experience turned out to remind everyone that setbacks could turn into stepping stones towards better success.
As he looks forward to more matches he remains hopeful. Hopefully, I can continue my good work, he concluded, determination building on his successful return. It is all passion for Varun Chakravarthy. Focused on the present and committed to the craft, he will only continue to be a very important player for the Indian squad as he reintegrates back into the team.
Mayank Yadav also shines on his international debut
For his series opener against Bangladesh, India chose two debutants speedster Mayank Yadav and batsman Nitish Kumar Reddy Of these Mayank was much more impressive, as he made telling impact in the very first match of his international career From word go Yadav was of a class apart. He took one for eight in his first over an act achieved by just two Indian bowlers in the history of T20I And the landmark performance was Yadav’s debut- gaining all eyeballs and gumntku. Mayank composure and positive self-belief were on full display as he went about his first experience at a jam-packed venue.
This was Yadav coming-of-age moment as he dismissed Mahmudullah to claim his maiden international wicket for himself. That became a significant personal milestone for the young bowler while contributing crucially towards India dominant bowling performance. Just how crucial it was to take wickets at the right time in an innings that showed potential to be a valuable asset for Indian bowling.
In Mayank Yadav it seems skill and composure come together quite promisingly for Indian cricket. Expectations should go naturally high as a player grows on and gains experience as players step up to perform a serving reminder that the Indian cricket system has this lot and depth of talent still capable of making an immediate impact on the international stage.
