Sunil Gavaskar Lauds Varun Chakaravarthy as 'Magician' After Match-Winning Performance
Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has heaped praise on spinner Varun Chakaravarthy following his crucial role in India's victory over New Zealand in the first T20 international. The match, held on Wednesday at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, saw India triumph by 48 runs, with Chakaravarthy delivering key wickets at critical moments.
Gavaskar's Magical Praise for the Mystery Spinner
Speaking on JioHotstar after the match, Gavaskar did not hold back in his admiration for Chakaravarthy. "He's a magician, make no mistake. He bowls brilliantly," Gavaskar declared, emphasizing the spinner's skill and composure under pressure.
Gavaskar noted that while Chakaravarthy appeared slightly rusty initially, his performance was impressive given the circumstances. "Varun looked a little rusty, but that's understandable. He picked up two wickets and the economy rate, when the batters are going hell-bent for leather, was pretty decent as well," he explained.
Resilience and Positive Body Language Highlighted
A key aspect of Gavaskar's praise focused on Chakaravarthy's mental fortitude and body language during the match. "The important thing is that his body language was good. Often, you know, his body language, sometimes when he's taken for a few runs, can be a little bit down. That didn't happen," Gavaskar observed.
He elaborated on how Chakaravarthy maintained his composure even after being hit for boundaries. "He was walking back to the mark, upright, wasn't looking fazed by the fact that he'd been hit for a couple of sixes, and that's always a very good sign," Gavaskar added, highlighting the spinner's resilience.
Confidence and Future Prospects
Gavaskar expressed confidence in Chakaravarthy's abilities across formats, suggesting that self-belief is key to his success. "So yes, in this format or even in the 50-over format, which will be expensive, he just has to believe, 'Yes, next over I'm going to get my two wickets,' and that's what he does," he stated, underscoring the importance of mindset in cricket.
India's Overall Performance and World Cup Implications
Beyond individual praise, Gavaskar commended India's team performance, which he described as "very, very heartening." He pointed out that the victory bodes well for the upcoming T20 World Cup. "You win the first game, that's a ticked box for sure. Yes, within that ticked box, there will be other small boxes to be ticked off, but you know it's always good to start the new year, a new campaign, with a win before the World Cup," Gavaskar remarked.
He praised India's batting effort, which saw them post a formidable total of 238 runs, and their bowling performance despite a few dropped catches. "I think India did brilliantly to get to 238 and then they bowled really well. Yes, the odd catch went down, but all around the performance was very, very heartening," he concluded, expressing optimism for the team's future endeavors.
