Varun Chakravarthy discussed his relationship with former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, highlighting their interactions during the Tamil Nadu Premier League. Ahead of India’s match against New Zealand, Ashwin predicted Chakravarthy would replace Harshit Rana, which came true after Chakravarthy took 5/42 in a victory. Rohit Sharma noted that Chakravarthy doesn’t bowl many variations in nets, to which Chakravarthy responded that he adjusts his bowling strategies between T20 and ODI formats. Reflecting on his past struggles in the T20 World Cup 2021, he expressed nerves but received support from senior players like Rohit, Virat Kohli, and Hardik Pandya during the match.
Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy shared insights about his relationship with former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. He also explained why captain Rohit Sharma mentioned that Chakravarthy does not bowl many variations to the Indian batters during net sessions. Ashwin and Chakravarthy both spent time in the same dressing room at Dindigul Dragons in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) 2024. Before India’s final group stage match against New Zealand, Ashwin predicted that Chakravarthy would take the place of Harshit Rana, a prediction that ultimately came true.
After leading India to a 44-run victory with his impressive figures of 5/42 against the Kiwis, the 33-year-old discussed his rapport with the former Indian bowler.
“To answer the first question, yes, I’ve interacted with him (Ashwin) during our time in TNPL. I play for his team, and we have had some conversations then. He has been a supportive figure for me,” he mentioned in the pre-match press conference.
Before India’s tournament opener against Bangladesh, Rohit stated that Chakravarthy doesn’t “bowl many variations” in the nets. He noted that Chakravarthy “only bowls one type of variation” to them.
Chakravarthy clarified the Indian captain’s comments, explaining, “In T20 cricket, I construct my over differently. The sequence of different deliveries varies. In ODIs, it’s a different approach. That’s why they may feel I don’t bowl all the variations, but in reality, I do.”
Before unleashing his skill and securing India’s win, Chakravarthy admitted he felt “nervous,” as memories of the past weighed on his mind. In the T20 World Cup 2021, he was included in India’s squad but did not perform well.
With the support of seniors Rohit, Virat Kohli, and Hardik Pandya, who constantly encouraged him to remain calm during his spell, he was able to put his past behind him.
“During my first spell, I was indeed a bit nervous because the previous experiences and emotions from the last three years at this ground were coming back to me. I was trying to manage those feelings. However, Virat bhai, Rohit, and even Hardik, kept telling me to calm down. They would come and talk to me, and that really helped,” he said.
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