Varun Chakravarthy has emerged as a key player for India in the ongoing T20I series against England, having claimed 10 wickets across three matches, which includes a remarkable second international T20 five-wicket haul in Rajkot. Despite India's defeat to England by 26 runs, Chakravarthy has justified the confidence placed in him by coach Gautam Gambhir, who reinstated him into the team after a nearly three-year absence from international cricket.

Chakravarthy has garnered significant acclaim for his performance, as England's batsmen have struggled to counter his cunning and skilful bowling. However, former Indian cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar suggested that this latest version of Chakravarthy is as much a product of his mental approach and strategy as it is of his technical ability to manipulate the cricket ball.

“It’s happening very often and a second five-wicket haul is crazy in T20 cricket,” Manjrekar remarked on ESPNcricinfo after the match. “And I have talked about the reason for it. He pitches the ball up and was not afraid to do it today as well.”

In the absence of Kuldeep Yadav, who previously filled the role of a strike spinner during last year's successful T20 World Cup campaign, Chakravarthy has stepped up as India's primary wicket-taking option. With Axar Patel and Ravi Bishnoi serving as more conservative spin choices, this dynamic allows Chakravarthy to adopt a more aggressive approach against opposing batsmen.

“He bowled one up to Jamie Smith, who thanked him for a six and then he bowled a little shorter, but he’s always up there, challenging the batters to go at him,” Manjrekar elaborated.

‘There’s always some fikri…'

Chakravarthy has distinguished himself as only the third Indian bowler to achieve multiple five-wicket hauls in T20 Internationals, joining the ranks of Kuldeep Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He aspires for his recent performances to secure his position as a regular member of an Indian squad that currently boasts an abundance of spin-bowling talent.

Manjrekar praised Chakravarthy's strategic approach, highlighting it as a vital attribute in T20 cricket: “As the saying goes, fortune favours the brave; he is unafraid to take risks, which is instrumental in his ability to claim wickets. The ball does not merely pitch and travel straight; there is always an element of unpredictability upon release. He is indeed a challenging bowler to face.”

With India maintaining a 2-1 advantage, the series will continue at the MCA Stadium in Pune for the fourth match of this five-game series.

Read Also: 'If You Don't Like It, Just Ignore': Shadab Khan on Cricketers Texting Actresses

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!