March 3, 2025: After a stunning five-wicket haul against New Zealand in India’s final group stage match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Varun Chakravarthy opened up about his redemption following a disappointing T20 World Cup 2021 campaign at the same venue.
Chakravarthy’s five-wicket performance was instrumental in India securing a comfortable victory, helping them finish the group stage with three wins in three matches. The mystery spinner, who was named the Player of the Match, described how the emotions of his previous experience in Dubai played a role in his initial nervousness but was ultimately able to overcome it with support from his teammates.
“In 2021, we did not have a – I did not, personally, have a great tournament here. India was knocked out early,” Varun said in his post-match press conference. “But I do feel that I bowled decently. The results were not in our favor. But it looks good right now. Team India is doing well, and the combinations have set very well, so it feels good,” he added.
Reflecting on his nerves during his first spell, Varun admitted that the emotions of his past performance in Dubai crept up. “During the first spell, I was a little nervous because the previous things, the emotions, and all, were playing with me. I was trying to keep it down, control it. But Virat bhai, Rohit (Sharma), and even Hardik (Pandya) kept coming up to me, telling me to calm down. Their support really helped,” Varun shared.
Varun also spoke about how his bowling approach has evolved in ODIs compared to T20s, crediting his performances in domestic one-day cricket for helping him refine his skills. He explained that the sequencing of his deliveries is crucial in the longer format, emphasizing the differences in how he structures his overs in ODIs as opposed to T20s.
“That I was able to figure out when I played the last two years in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. It really helped me to understand when I can bowl my incoming delivery or outgoing delivery or the straighter one or the top spin, whatever it is. But that gave me a sense of awareness of when to bowl, it is completely different from what I do in T20s,” he explained.
As India now prepares for their semi-final clash against Australia, Varun acknowledged the importance of staying focused and not underestimating any team. “Any team that comes, we have to give our best,” he said, highlighting that the competition will be fierce, and no team should be taken lightly in the knockout stages.
With his impressive performance and newfound confidence, Varun Chakravarthy has proven that the past is behind him, and he is ready to play a key role in India’s Champions Trophy campaign moving forward.