Bharath Ramaraj in Dubai
Around 1,480 days ago, Varun Chakaravarthy might have wondered whether the entire world was against him. Although he wasn’t the only bowler who couldn’t make an incision in the 2021 T20 World Cup game against Pakistan, the mystery spinner came under heavy scrutiny. He also played in conditions where there was considerable dew. But in a game where emotions hit fever pitch, logic was thrown out of the window as Varun became one of the scapegoats.
Four years later, if Varun looks back on that game, he might ponder the following lines: Am I living in some other world? Varun has upgraded his bowling to such an extent that he has become the No. 1 Indian spinner in the shortest format of the game. His 34 wickets in T20Is now come at a cost of an average of just 14.26.
Here again, we have to pare the surface to gauge how Varun’s raw materials were sculpted into a lethal weapon. In tandem with Parthiban, his bowling coach, he has not just added new variations, but also upskilled his bowling smarts. Varun now seems to know when to use what weapon, depending on the strengths and weaknesses of the batter, and the situation of the game. He also seems to anticipate a batter’s moves much better.
More importantly, Varun is fitter and stronger. It hasn’t just helped Varun to upgrade his fielding skills, but also ensured that the spinner can maintain intensity levels over his quota of overs. In terms of the artillery that he possesses, it is quite evident that he now has two types of leg-breaks: One of them is released slightly in front and gets some sidespin. The other variety is released from behind in comparison to the first leg-break. In this case, he imparts more overspin.
What flummoxes the batter is that the grip doesn’t really change as far as his googly and leg-spin are concerned. The release point of the second type of leg-break isn’t very different to that of his googly either. In addition to that, he is imparting more revs on his wrong ’un. Varun also has a faster one, which could touch speeds well in excess of 100 kph. In recent times, however, he hasn’t bowled much of the carrom ball.
Over the last four years, we have learnt that Varun is not one of those typical ‘mystery’ bowlers who fades away into oblivion in a year or two. We have also learnt that he has sharpened his weaponry by developing new variations, alongside polishing his tactical nous and improving fitness levels.
In a couple of days’ time, we may learn something more about Varun, and that is his big-match temperament. Come Sunday, and he has a window of opportunity to write a new chapter at the same ground where he was once a scapegoat against India’s arch-rivals.
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