Varun Chakaravarthy emerged as the most impressive player for India in the recently concluded Champions Trophy. The enigmatic spinner claimed nine wickets across three matches, highlighted by a remarkable five-wicket haul against New Zealand during the group stage. Shortly after the tournament victory, the 33-year-old expressed his aspiration to participate in Test cricket for the national team. However, he acknowledged a significant limitation that could impede his ability to compete in this longer format.

In the Champions Trophy, Varun made his debut for India against New Zealand in the group stage. Following his five-wicket performance, he secured two wickets each in both the semi-final against Australia and the final against New Zealand.

Recently, former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin remarked that Varun deserved the Player of the Tournament award, citing his pivotal role in the competition and the essential X factor he brought to Rohit Sharma's team.

"I have an interest in Test cricket, but my bowling style is not conducive to it," Varun stated during a podcast with Gobinath on his YouTube channel. 

"My bowling resembles medium pace. In Test cricket, one must consistently bowl 20-30 overs, which I am unable to do. Given my quick bowling style, I can manage a maximum of 10-15 overs, which is not ideal for the red ball format. Currently, I am concentrating on 20-over and 50-over white ball cricket," he added.

For those unfamiliar, Varun Chakaravarthy finished as the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, trailing only New Zealand's Matt Henry.

Varun started as a fast bowler

Varun Chakaravarthy initially played as a fast bowler during his college years; however, an injury prompted him to transition to spin bowling. He originally embarked on his cricketing career as a wicketkeeper.

The spinner expressed that he has no regrets about abandoning fast bowling, as his shift to slower deliveries has allowed him to represent his country and establish a reputation in the sport.

“No, I have no regrets. That’s why I am here. Had I continued with pace bowling, I would have been limited in my opportunities. There are numerous fast bowlers, and the pitches in Tamil Nadu do not favor swing bowling; they are more conducive to spin. Consequently, it is uncommon to find many fast bowlers from Tamil Nadu," Varun remarked.

"While there are exceptions like Balaji and Natarajan, other states have a greater number of pace bowlers. I am content with my decision to move away from fast bowling. Even (Ravichandran) Ashwin transitioned to spin after starting as a fast bowler, so I feel satisfied with my path," he added.

Varun has made significant progress in his international cricket career. His initial experience as an international player during the 2021 T20 World Cup did not meet expectations, as he did not take any wickets. However, a strong performance in the IPL with KKR has revitalized his career.

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