Varun Chakravarthy played a pivotal role in India’s Champions Trophy triumph, taking nine wickets in three matches, including a five-wicket haul against New Zealand in the group stage. Despite his stellar performances, the 33-year-old admitted that his bowling style might limit his chances in Test cricket.
Making his tournament debut against New Zealand, Varun impressed with a fifer before claiming two wickets each in the semi-final against Australia and the final against the Kiwis.
Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin praised Varun’s impact, suggesting he deserved the Player of the Tournament award for bringing the X factor to Rohit Sharma’s side.
Varun Chakravarthy shared his thoughts on Test cricket during a conversation on Gobinath’s YouTube podcast, admitting that his bowling style isn’t suited for the longest format of the game. “I have an interest in Test cricket, but my bowling style doesn’t quite suit the format,” he said.
“My deliveries are almost like medium pace, and in Test matches, bowlers need to consistently bowl 20-30 overs. That’s not possible with my style. Since I bowl quicker, I can manage a maximum of 10-15 overs, which isn’t suited for red-ball cricket. Right now, my focus is on 20-over and 50-over formats.”
Varun was the tournament’s second-highest wicket-taker, just behind Matt Henry. He started as a wicketkeeper, switched to pace in college, and later turned to spin after an injury, a move he credits for his success.
Speaking about his early days as a pacer, Varun acknowledged that switching to spin was the right decision. “If I had continued with pace bowling, I might not have made it this far. Tamil Nadu pitches don’t assist swing, as they are more suited for spin. That’s why you don’t see many fast bowlers from our state—it’s quite rare.”
He added, “Of course, there have been pacers like Balaji and Natarajan, but other states produce far more. I’m glad I moved away from fast bowling. Even (Ravichandran) Ashwin transitioned from pace to spin, and that worked out well for him. I have no regrets.”
Varun’s international journey has been one of perseverance. After a wicketless 2021 T20 World Cup, he rediscovered his form with KKR in the IPL, paving the way for a strong comeback.
