Varun Chakravarthy Exorcises Ghosts of Dubai with Five-Wicket Haul

Varun Chakravarthy's redemption arc was complete as he exorcised the ghosts of Dubai with a five-wicket haul against New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS). In 2021, Chakravarthy's mystery had fizzled out, but on Sunday night, he was back to his best, returning with five wickets and helping India to a 44-run victory.

Chakravarthy's performance was all the more impressive given the experimental nature of the Indian team, which included four spinners and only one specialist fast bowler. He made an instant impact, returning with five wickets and shaking off the memories of his disappointing performance in 2021.

"Yeah, of course, in 2021, we didn't have a great tournament here. But I do feel that I did bowl decently. But the results were not our way. But it looks good right now. And Team India is doing well," Chakravarthy noted, looking back.

Chakravarthy's variations and accuracy left the New Zealand batsmen struggling, and he was praised by his teammates and opponents alike. "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 it's a good headache to have," said skipper Rohit Sharma.

The Tamil Nadu and Kolkata Knight Riders spinner has evolved significantly, sharpening his craft in the 50-over Vijay Hazare tournament in domestic cricket. "It really helped me to understand when I can bowl my incoming delivery, outgoing delivery or the straighter one," Chakaravarthy said, speaking about his shift to the 50-over game.

Chakravarthy's mystery element is so subtle that picking him becomes as challenging as trying to play a white ball against a white sight screen. Batsmen facing him should vouch for that. There are a few minute nuances that are difficult to pick – his point of delivery, drift in the air, change in speed and length. Accuracy is another key strength of Chakravarthy, who primarily relies on deception.

With enough time in the one-dayers, it's always a challenge for the 33-year-old Chakravarthy, who is primarily a product of T20 cricket. However, he has evolved, and his performance on Sunday night will give him a lot of confidence going into the semifinal against Australia on Tuesday.