Imagine you switch from fast bowling to spin bowling now and two years later you’re representing the Indian team in the limited-overs format, Seems unrealistic right? but Varun Chakravarthy has done the unthinkable and the impossible at the same time as the latter from Tamil Nadu who bowls ‘mystery spin’ got picked for India’s T20 squad to play against Australia in Australia later this year.
When we look at the life story of Varun Chakravarthy its quite fascinating since the player was a fast bowler in his early twenties who then took up wicket-keeping because his idol Dinesh Karthik was a wicket-keeper. Not long when he realised getting in the side is difficult being a wicket-keeper, Varun Chakravarthy then tried his hand at spin bowling and eventually became a mystery spinner.
He started playing in the Tamil Nadu premier league where he set the tournament on fire with his mystery variations which eventually led to more than 5 teams bidding for him the 2019 IPL auction. He presented the Kings XI Punjab franchise in that particular but couldn’t cause an impact as he was tonked for plenty in his opening. In the 2020 IPL Auction, there was heavy bidding for the architect yet again as Kolkata Knight Riders scalped him for an amount of 4 crores.
The architect cum mystery spinner was then picked ahead of Kuldeep Yadav which initially did raise a few eyebrows but he shut all his critics down with his economical spells in the season. In the match against Delhi Capitals, Varun Chakravarthy ran an absolute riot against the Delhi batsmen as he picked up five wickets for 20 runs which was also the 2nd best figures by a bowler in the history of the IPL.
Also Read: Unknown Facts About Varun Chakravarthy
‘Feels Surreal’ – Varun Chakravarthy After Selection In India T20 Squad
Then came the epic news for the architect during the match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The squads for India’s tour of Australia were announced and to much surprise, Varun Chakravarthy received an unexpected call up to the T20 national side.
In jubilation, the architect-turned cricketer spoke to BCCI after the match where he described the news as surreal.
“After the match got over I got to know (of my selection into the Indian team). I keep using the same word, again and again, it feels surreal,” he told BCCI.tv
Varun Chakravarthy follows just one mantra whilst playing for any side and that is to play for them on regular basis. He expects to do the same for team India as he is all set to play in T20s vs Australia.
“My basic goal was to play in the team regularly and perform and contribute to their wins. Hopefully, I’ll be able to do the same for India. I am not very active on social media and I have to thank the selectors for keeping the faith in me. I don’t really have words,” he added.