From Setback to Comeback: Varun Chakravarthy’s Journey Back to Team India

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Varun Chakravarthy recalls his struggles after a difficult international debut, opening up about the challenges he faced after his underwhelming performance during the 2021 T20 World Cup.

The 33-year-old mystery spinner, once touted as a game-changer, found himself in the wilderness after failing to make a mark in his debut series. However, his recent successful comeback, highlighted by three wickets in the series opener against Bangladesh, is proof of the hard work and dedication that brought him back to the Indian team.

Reflecting on his debut, Varun admitted that the experience left him questioning his future in international cricket. "Whenever there was a squad that was announced, I used to feel like, 'Why is my name not there?' and I used to keep thinking about that. So that kind of brought the motivation within me that I should not leave this. I should go all out and make a comeback," he said.

This frustration fueled his desire to rebuild his game and return stronger. He credits his time playing domestic cricket and the IPL as crucial to his development. "I started playing a lot of domestic games and giving importance to it. That kind of helped me," Varun explained. These experiences allowed him to tweak his bowling style, moving from a side-spin approach to over-spin, which has helped him regain control and confidence.

"I used to be a side-spin bowler, but right now, I have completely shifted to being an over-spin bowler. It's a minute technical aspect of spin bowling, but it took me more than two years. I gradually tested it in TNPL and IPL," he said. The change paid off, as Varun was able to find sharp bounce and turn against Bangladesh, including a stunning googly to dismiss Jaker Ali.

Despite these successes, Varun's road back hasn't been easy. In his first over in the Bangladesh match, a dropped catch saw his over go for 15 runs as Bangladesh captain Najmul Hasan Shanto and Towhid Hridoy went on the offensive. However, skipper Suryakumar Yadav's faith in him never wavered, and Varun rebounded in his next over, dismissing Hridoy.

"Yes, in the first over the catch could have gone my way but that's how T20s are played. I felt the reverse-sweep six was a good ball but it still went for a six, so it's all mixed emotions," he said.

The spinner also acknowledged the intense competition for spots in India's spin department, with leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi performing well in the limited opportunities he's been given. However, Varun emphasized the camaraderie in the team, despite the rivalry. "There is good competition and there is good camaraderie also. And the person who was cheering me was Ravi Bishnoi; he was coming and telling me messages, so I can't ask for more," Varun said. "It's actually good to have such competition so that people will keep pushing each other."

Varun Chakravarthy's journey from a tough debut to a triumphant return is a story of resilience and determination. Now, with his spot in the Indian team reclaimed, Varun is ready to continue proving his worth on the international stage.