Gwalior: After failing to take a wicket in three matches of India’s disappointing 2021 T20 World Cup campaign in Dubai for the last three years (1066 days to be precise), the ‘mystery spinner’ has been dropped from the Indian team. Had gone. Varun Chakraborty Whenever the national selectors announce a team they will look for his name t20 series.
Have performed well in IPL For Kolkata Knight Riders Consistent at this stage, Varun was naturally optimistic about his chances of making an India comeback in this format, where an assortment of carrom balls, leg breaks, googlies, off-breaks and anything that goes straight would make him the ace in the pack. Which is something opponents don’t know about. Every time, failure in selection would depress him, but motivate him to put in more efforts in domestic cricket. Slowly but surely, the fire burning inside and the hard work in domestic cricket helped him get his enthusiasm back.
On Sunday night, playing his first Indian match in three years, Varun bowled brilliantly, taking three wickets for 31 runs in four overs – the best performance of his career – as the hosts defeated Bangladesh by seven runs at the Srimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium. Was the star in winning wickets. , The 33-year-old took the wicket of Tauheed Hridoy (pulled a flat ball). hardik pandya at long on), Jakar Ali (bowled by a mesmerizing googly) and Rishad Hussain (top-edged to Pandya at deep-midwicket).
Naturally, an emotional Varun told former India left-arm spinner Murali Karthik on the official telecast after the game that playing for India again after a long gap felt like a “rebirth”. Varun said, “After three long years…it was definitely emotional for me, and it feels good to be back in the blues, it feels like a rebirth.”
Varun first came into limelight when he took 17 wickets, including a devastating spell of 5-20 against Delhi Capitals in IPL-2020. In IPL-2021, he looked even more unstoppable, taking 18 wickets in 17 games@24.88 at an economy rate of 6.58. His brilliant spin partnership with Sunil Narine There was a big reason for Kolkata Knight Riders reaching the final of IPL-2021.
However, after taking just two wickets in six T20Is, Varun was dropped. The perception that he was a liability on the field was not helped. Despite performing well in the IPL for KKR, he played only his seventh T20 match and first in India on Sunday night. “It’s been a long time for three years and whenever the team was announced for a series, I used to think, ‘Why is my name not in it?’ And I kept thinking about it. That’s how I got the motivation to not give up, and I started giving importance to it,” Varun said in the post-match press conference. Said in the conference.
Explaining how a technical adjustment helped him get his rhythm back, Varun said, “I used to be a side-spin bowler but right now, I have completely shifted to an over-spin bowler who Spin is a subtle technical aspect of bowling.” From side spin to over spin, it took me more than two years, in these three years, the work I did was on my technical aspect.”
Being a spinner from Tamil Nadu, Varun was bound to be impressed by India’s off-spin stalwarts in Test cricket. Ravichandran AshwinPlaying under Ashwin in the recently concluded Tamil Nadu Premier League, Varun took 12 wickets (joint highest for his team with fast bowler Sandeep Warrier) at an impressive economy of 6.61, helping the Ashwin-captained Dindigul Dragons lift the trophy. Helped to win. Which includes two wickets for 26 runs in the final. “It (TNPL) is a very good tournament and of high level too. It is a place where I work a lot, with Ash (Ashwin) brother also, we won the championship there, which gave me confidence here. I Having just played a few months ago it was good preparation for this series,” he told the broadcasters.
Certainly, 2024 has been kind to Varun. His stellar performances in the IPL and TNPL did not go unnoticed and he was eventually recalled to India. Varun played a big role in making India the coach. Gautam GambhirHis last stint as KKR mentor was a successful one, as he took 21 wickets in 14 matches, the second-highest achievement of the season, helping the Shah Rukh Khan-owned franchise become champions in the IPL-2024 trophy. Obviously, Gambhir and India assistant coach Abhishek Nair, who previously held the same position with KKR, are aware of how much importance Varun brings to the table. The spinner said that he has not talked much with Gambhir till now.
“He is a man of few words, so during his time at KKR we didn’t talk much. We only talked about the game. However, this is my first match with him. So, I look forward to spending more time with him.” I am doing it.” With him,” he said.
On the chance given by debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy at deep square leg in his first over, Varun said it is part of the game. “I am very happy to contribute for the team. Yes, the catch could have gone my way in the first over but that’s how T20 is played. I thought the reverse-sweep six was a good ball but still it went for a six.” So it’s all mixed emotions.”
