Varun Chakravarthy, a mystery spinner for India, has recently garnered attention following his impressive 5 for 42 in just his second ODI appearance. Despite initially pursuing careers in architecture and filmmaking, he shifted focus to cricket at 26. Varun has adapted his game from T20 to 50-over formats by refining his ball sequencing and understanding the game’s nuances. He remains secretive about his bowling variations, as noted by India captain Rohit Sharma, who appreciates Varun’s strategic approach. With his recent performances, Varun is making a strong case for more ODI opportunities, particularly on favorable pitches.
“Essentially, the ball can move inside, outside, and travel straight. You have the option to keep it that way, but there are subtle adjustments you can make as well.”
Given his status as a mystery spinner, the air of secrecy is understandable. In fact, it’s quite a boss move.
Varun admits that it wasn’t until he was 26 that he viewed cricket as a serious career. “Before that, I dreamed of being an architect and making films. I’ve explored several career paths.”
Now at 33, he achieves figures of 5 for 42 in just his second ODI, making a compelling case for his spot in the Champions Trophy semi-final—likely set on a used pitch that could favor him. Varun is an IPL product, having participated in only a single first-class match.
He shared how he adapted his bowling style for 50-over cricket after transitioning from the T20 format.
“In T20, the way I sequence my deliveries—essentially how I build an over—differs significantly from the 50-over format,” Varun explained. “I figured this out while playing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy over the last two years. It enabled me to comprehend when to deliver my incoming ball, outgoing ball, or a straighter delivery, among others. This gave me greater awareness of when to bowl what. It’s entirely different from my T20 approach.”
In his match against New Zealand, Varun mentioned he didn’t feel overwhelmed by pressure due to support from Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel.
However, there exists the challenge of not revealing his strategies to upcoming opponents in the tournament or to those he will face in the forthcoming IPL. Varun is tight-lipped about his “trade secrets,” even with teammates.
“In the nets, he doesn’t showcase many variations. He primarily bowls one type of delivery. Perhaps he’s cautious about revealing his variations to us. But that’s a positive thing. He possesses unique skills that he prefers to display when it truly matters. I’m more than happy with that.”
“He brings something different to the table, which is why we have him with us. His performance over the past eight to nine months has been impressive. That’s why we wanted him here to see what he can do for India on the grand stage.”
His contributions to India on this significant platform indicate that he deserves more opportunities in ODIs, especially on pitches that wear. The semi-final against Australia will likely be played on the same surface that hosted the Pakistan match.
Having not participated in India’s first two matches of the Champions Trophy, Varun has now made himself a player that’s hard to drop.
Andrew Fidel Fernando is a senior writer at ESPNcricinfo. @afidelf