Former Indian cricketer turned commentator Akash Chopra Heaped praise on Varun Chakaravarthy after his match-winning spell in the first T20I against England in Kolkata. The enigmatic spinner impressed everyone by finishing with stunning figures of 3/23 in four overs.
His efforts helped the Indian cricket team bowl out England for 132 before the hosts chased down the target with ease, winning the first T20I by seven wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the ongoing five-match T20I. series At Eden Gardena in Kolkata on Wednesday, January 23.
Aakash Chopra praises Varun Chakravarthy's transformation into a bowler
After the match, Aakash Chopra highlighted the remarkable transformation in Varun Chakaravarthy, saying that the enigmatic spinner now confidently faces the challenge of bowling the power play. His ability to slow the ball in the air and fly it accurately has caught the attention of cricket pundits.
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Taking a dig at the Afghan roundabout Rashid Khanthe former India batsman mentioned that spinners usually tend to increase their pace under pressure, but Chakaravarthy remains calm and sticks to his strengths, even when he is hit for runs. He stressed that both deer are different.
Varun Chakravarthy is not Rashid Khan: Aakash Chopra
“Since Varun Chakaravarthy has returned, he has started bowling in the Powerplay,” Aakash Chopra said in a video he posted on his YouTube channel. He came in and bowled the sixth ball, and his bowling was unbelievable. What I like most is that it plays slowly in the air. He's happy to just fly the ball.
Speed is a big sign in my opinion because nowadays spinners become fast as soon as they get batted and fast bowlers become slow. If a spinner bowls the ball confidently, he moves slowly. You go slow even if you get hit for a six unless you are Rashid Khan. His bowling style is different. He will throw quickly. However, Varun Chakaravarthy is not Rasheed.
Moreover, the commentator pointed out that Varun Chakaravarthy is a skilled bowler with many tricks. He can break his legs and is hard to hit. In the past, batsmen could guess what kind of ball Varun would bowl, and even which spinner he would use to bowl bad balls, whether short or full.
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Varun Chakaravarthy is no longer predictable for batsmen, says Aakash Chopra
However, Varun has now improved his game in terms of length and even line, with Aakash Chopra noting that the Indian bowler has bowled with more control and accuracy over the past two years. Cricket experts also mentioned that Varun rarely bowls bad balls now.
Chopra also pointed out that Chakaravarthy's deliveries now start and finish inside the three stumps, and he can also start deliveries outside the off-stump, making him more difficult to face off-spinners.
After winning the Player of the Match award in Kolkata, Varun revealed that he is trying to make his bowling more unpredictable. To do this, he adds variations to the speed at which he delivers the ball while continuing to use excess speed to make his deliveries more difficult for hitters.
