NEW DELHI: Once Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the Champions Trophy, few could have predicted the impact mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy would go on to make. Drafted into the squad as the fifth spinner, Chakravarthy turned out to be India’s X-factor, finishing as the joint-highest wicket-taker with nine scalps in just three matches.
Speaking to anchor Gobinath on his YouTube channel, the 33-year-old opened up about the dark phase after the 2021 T20 World Cup and how the recent success has helped him heal.
“It was a dark time for me. I was in depression because I thought I was not able to do justice after I was picked for the World Cup with a lot of hype,” he said.
“I am not able to believe that all good things are happening in one go. I want to take it to the next level.”
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Varun revealed that the backlash post-2021 was more than just criticism.
“After the 2021 World Cup, I received threat calls. ‘Don’t come to India. If you try, you won’t be able to.’ People came up to my house, tracked me down — I had to hide at times. When I was returning from the airport, a couple of people followed me on their bikes. It happens. I can understand fans are emotional. But when I look back… I am happy.”
His selection for the ODI leg came as a surprise after the T20I series in Mumbai.
“I even got the tickets for Chennai. But the next morning, I was told that I was in the one-day team too and was asked to come to Nagpur.”
“I think the Champions Trophy was a huge confidence booster,” he added. “I felt I belonged and that there was a place for me.”
With IPL 2025 around the corner, Chakravarthy, who will be donning the Kolkata Knight Riders colours, is focused on maintaining the momentum.
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