Sunil Gavaskar Lauds Varun Chakravarthy as a 'Magician with the Ball'
Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has showered praise on mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, describing him as a "magician with the ball" for his impactful performance in India's victory over New Zealand in the first T20I. The match, held in Nagpur on Wednesday, saw Chakravarthy play a pivotal role in restricting the opposition and securing a win for the Indian team.
Gavaskar's Detailed Analysis of Chakravarthy's Bowling
Speaking on JioHotstar, Gavaskar highlighted Chakravarthy's ability to flummox batters with his deception and unique variations. "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," Gavaskar remarked. He emphasized that Chakravarthy's body language remained positive even after being hit for runs, a sign of his growing confidence and resilience.
The former India captain elaborated, "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. He's a magician, make no mistake. He bowls brilliantly." Gavaskar added that Chakravarthy's mindset of believing in his ability to take wickets in every over makes him a valuable asset in both T20 and 50-over formats.
India's Commanding Performance in the First T20I
Gavaskar described India's overall performance as "very heartening", especially with the T20 World Cup on the horizon. The team posted a commanding total of 238 for 7, thanks to explosive batting from Abhishek Sharma, who smashed 84 off just 35 balls, and Rinku Singh, who contributed 44 not out off 20 balls. In the bowling department, Chakravarthy, along with Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya, provided crucial breakthroughs to restrict New Zealand to 190 for 7.
"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 stated. He expressed satisfaction with India's batting and bowling efforts, noting that despite a few dropped catches, the team's performance was impressive and sets a positive tone for the series.
Looking Ahead to the Second T20I
The second T20I of the series is scheduled to be played in Raipur on Friday, offering India another opportunity to fine-tune their strategies ahead of the T20 World Cup. Gavaskar's praise for Chakravarthy underscores the spinner's rising importance in the team's bowling attack, as India continues to build momentum with this victory.
In summary, Sunil Gavaskar's endorsement of Varun Chakravarthy as a "magician with the ball" highlights the spinner's skill and mental toughness, which were key factors in India's successful start to the T20I series against New Zealand. With the World Cup approaching, such performances are crucial for team morale and preparation.
