Varun Chakravarthy entered the realm of competitive and international cricket relatively late in his career. At the age of 27, he made his debut in the Ranji Trophy for Tamil Nadu. By the time he participated in his first Twenty20 International in July 2021, he was just a month away from turning 30. His selection for the T20 World Cup later that year was largely attributed to his enigmatic bowling style.

Despite being chosen over the more experienced spinner R Ashwin, Chakravarthy's performance in the tournament was disappointing, mirroring India's overall lackluster showing as they exited in the initial stages. In three matches at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, he failed to claim a single wicket, concluding with figures of none for 71 across 11 overs against Pakistan, New Zealand, and Scotland. Following this, he found himself overlooked by the national selectors.

Chakravarthy had a straightforward alternative; as an architect by training, he could have returned to his original profession. However, his tenacity prevailed. Recognizing the need for self-improvement, he dedicated himself to rigorous practice. He came to understand that his previously regarded strength, sidespin, was not the optimal approach, prompting him to concentrate on overspin instead. With relentless effort and a problem-solving mindset, he diligently honed his skills, reminiscent of Ashwin's own journey.

His relentless efforts were destined to yield results. Following a lackluster 2022 season in which he secured only six wickets across 11 matches for the Kolkata Knight Riders, he rebounded impressively with 20 wickets in 2023 and 21 the subsequent year, contributing to KKR's third title victory a decade after their previous win. To demonstrate his versatility beyond T20 performance, he emerged as a joint leading wicket-taker in the interstate 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy for the 2023-24 season, claiming 19 wickets, and followed this with 18 wickets in just six matches the following year, finishing second only to Arshdeep Singh, who took 20.

Recognition came swiftly. Almost three years after his challenging experience in Dubai, Chakravarthy was recalled to the Indian T20 squad for a home series against Bangladesh last September. In the 12 T20 Internationals since his return to the national team, he has accumulated 31 wickets, with 14 of those coming in just five matches against England in January and February, which earned him his first One-Day International call-up against the same team.

Although he had a modest performance of one for 54 in his sole appearance in Cuttack, he managed to persuade Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir of his potential value on the slow, spin-friendly, and well-used pitches anticipated for the Champions Trophy. As a result, just prior to the official deadline for announcing the final 15-man squad, he took the place of reserve opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, although he had to wait until Sunday, against New Zealand, for his inaugural match in the tournament.

Varun Chakravarthy architects his redemption arc in Dubai

The anticipation proved to be exceedingly worthwhile. On the same pitch where he had previously gone wicketless against New Zealand in October 2021, the leg spinner, who has traded his mystery for a blend of variety and consistency, achieved remarkable figures of five for 42 in a masterful display of controlled wrist spin. While Kuldeep Yadav, the more seasoned wrist-spinner, faced challenges, Chakravarthy skillfully outmaneuvered New Zealand’s formidable middle order, renowned for their proficiency against spin, effectively utilizing all his variations.

Among his arsenal are a deceptive googly and a newly developed cross-seam delivery that can target batters at speeds exceeding 110 km/h. The former dismissed the tenacious opener Will Young, while the latter struck Mitchell Santner’s off-stump, outpacing him just as the captain appeared poised to challenge India. Overall, it was an exceptional evening for the 33-year-old, who has now created a ‘happy headache’ for the team management.

Chakravarthy’s confidence in his overspin, which provides him with increased bounce, remains steadfast, and his precision has significantly improved. This, combined with his varied pace—ranging from the mid-70s to the early 110s—marks him as a particularly formidable bowler. He has done nothing to justify exclusion from Tuesday’s semifinal against Australia, yet the question remains: Should India maintain their four-spinner strategy for the knockout match? Or, if they wish to reintroduce Harshit Rana’s pace, will they consider replacing Chakravarthy with Kuldeep, who has had a satisfactory tournament but little more?

Australia has not faced Chakravarthy before, although many of their batters have encountered him in the IPL. He is a clear wicket-taker and has proven to be a match-winner on the international stage over the past six months, highlighted by three five-wicket hauls in the limited-overs formats. It would require considerable courage—perhaps from more than one individual—to leave him out of the lineup.

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