5-star Varun Chakravarthy shows why he's Rohit Sharma's trump card in Champions Trophy 2025

Varun Chakravarthy had a phenomenal first outing in the Champions Trophy, emerging as a match winner in just his 2nd ODI for India cricket team. The mystery spinner, who was added to the squad in the last-minute, proved that skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir’s call to include him the team was the right decision. Returning to a venue where he was tormented during his last outing, the Tamil Nadu spinner buried the ghosts of the 2021 T20 World Cup with a five-wicket haul in his very first CT 2025 game.

Cricket

3 weeks

“Calm down”: How “nervous” Varun Chakravarthy exorcised demons from 2022 to pick fifer vs NZ

Varun Chakravarthy – India’s trump card in Champions Trophy

Chakravarthy was fast-tracked to ODIs in the IND vs ENG series after a phenomenal outing in the T20I series. Although he played just one ODI, he was roped into the Indian team for CT 2025, replacing Yashasvi Jaiswal. At that time, the strategy to take five spinners to Dubai for the marquee tournament was criticised, with many experts wondering if the pitches in Dubai would ever favour the spinners. Cut to the Champions Trophy 2025 clash against New Zealand, Chakravarthy silenced all the naysayers with a five-star performance.

Latest news

Chakravarthy – the X factor

Before and during the CT 2025, captain Rohit Sharma had explained why India opted to include Varun in the squad. He had stated that his ability to bowl different variations coupled with the mystery factor made him the X-factor in Dubai. On Sunday, the Hitman reiterated the same after Chakravarthy’s match-winning performance.

“He has something different about him, so wanted to try and see what he can offer. We haven’t thought much about the next game, but good headache to have,” Rohit said after IND vs NZ tie.

True to his word, Chakravarthy did take the New Zealand batters by surprise, both with his pace and variation. Such was his impact that he conceded just 42 runs from his 10 overs while picking up 5 wickets. Will Young, Glenn Phillips, Bracewell, Santner and Henry were his victims, as he provided India with most of the crucial breakthroughs they needed. His ability to oscillate from 80 kmph to 113 kmph indeed made him the X-factor for India, as he left the Kiwi batters bamboozled.

Why India should play Varun in IND vs AUS semi-final?

Following his phenomenal show against NZ, critics had now started backing retaining Varun in the playing XI for the semi-final against Australia. And surely, he could do wonders on a Dubai track that is already worn out and is assisting the spinners. In fact, the IND vs AUS clash will be played at the same venue just 36 hours from the previous game.

Chakravarthy’s impressive domestic record

Varun finished as the second highest wicket-taker in the recently-concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy. With 18 wickets from 6 matches, the TN spinner averaged a mind-boggling 12.16, much better than any other bowlers on the top 10 list of highest wicket-getters in the tournament. His List A record with the ball is phenomenal, as well. In just 23 domestic 50-over matches, he has 59 wickets to his name and averages 14.13. This includes four 5-wicket hauls as well.