The first T20 match between India and England held in Kolkata showcased electrifying performances, particularly by Indian bowlers. Among the standout players was Varun Chakravarthy, who left a significant mark with his impressive bowling skills. With a remarkable ability to outsmart batsmen, Chakravarthy took three crucial wickets, including a double wicket over that had the English players dancing on the pitch. His fantastic performance highlighted the growing prowess of Indian bowlers in the T20 format.
Varun’s Exceptional Performance: Three Wickets in One Match
Varun Chakravarthy’s magical spell in Kolkata was a sight to behold. Known for his mystery spin, Varun claimed three wickets in the match, with two of them coming in a single over. In the eighth over of England’s innings, he struck gold by dismissing Harry Brook with the third delivery, who scored just 17 runs from 14 balls before heading back to the pavilion. The very next ball, he had Liam Livingstone, who did not get off the mark, clean bowled, leaving the batsman stunned and sent back without scoring. Furthermore, he trapped the England captain, Jos Buttler, at a personal score of 68, by having him caught by Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Timber strikes ✅
A double-wicket over ✅
Varun Chakaravarthy picks up two! 👏👏
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— BCCI (@BCCI) January 22, 2025
Chakravarthy’s Dominance: Six of Last Eleven Wickets Came Clean Bowled
A fascinating aspect of Varun’s performance is that both batsmen he dismissed in the second over were clean bowled. After sending Harry Brook’s stumps flying, he followed it up by delivering a ball that dismissed Livingstone. Notably, out of Varun’s last eleven wickets in T20 Internationals, an impressive six have come via clean bowled. This further emphasizes his skill in outsmarting batsmen and exploiting their weaknesses.
Impressive Stats: 20 Wickets in Just Eight Matches Since 2024
Varun’s identity as a mystery spinner places him among the elite bowlers in the game today. His unique bowling style has left many batsmen baffled, including those from England at Eden Gardens. Since the beginning of 2024, Varun has achieved remarkable statistics, taking 20 wickets in just eight T20 matches. Prior to this match, he had already bagged 17 wickets from seven matches this year. In his latest outing against England, he delivered a superb performance, conceding only 23 runs and claiming three wickets in four overs. Overall, Varun has taken 22 wickets in 14 T20 International matches, including a stellar performance where he claimed five wickets in a single match.