In the third T20I of the five-match series against England, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy extended his incredible run by taking his second five-wicket haul at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot. He was brought on in the sixth over of the innings, when England was cruising with 49 runs scored.
His opening over was the first over in the game in which no boundaries were hit. When he came back to bowl the ninth over from the opposite end of the field, he was able to take up the position of wickets. He caught the big fish, opposition captain Jos Buttler, with the final delivery of his second over. It seemed as though half of India’s concerns had vanished once Buttler was removed from the game.
In his last two overs, Chakravarthy put the brakes on the English batting lineup. Although off a drag-down, Chakravarthy returned brilliantly to remove Jamie Smith after getting sent out for a maximum over long-on. Jamie Overton was defeated by the very next delivery, as his attempt to paddle the ball to fine-leg ended disastrously, causing his leg pole to go for a walk.
Varun Chakravarthy secured five wickets in the end after a couple of dismissals within the last three deliveries of his spell. The first was Brydon Carse, whose sweep at deep square leg fell into the fielder’s hands. The cherry on top was Jofra Archer’s dismissal during his spell’s last delivery. Archer was completely confused by the ball’s skidding off the field and the air drift, as Chakravarthy finished with a score of 5/24.
Meanwhile, here’s how the fans reacted to Varun Chakravarthy’s bowling brilliance:
Oh My God Varun Chakarvarty kya baat hai !!!!
— auteasm | check highlights
(@auteasm) January 22, 2025
Today’s hero is Varun Chakravarthy, he has done more than expected pic.twitter.com/ZwE77rbZJB
— Uzma Parveen (@Nation__frist) January 28, 2025
VARUN CHAKRAVARTHY – THE UNSTOPPABLE MAN SINCE HIS COMEBACK.
pic.twitter.com/sjsmXMG0eH
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 28, 2025
This bowling line-up will be looking dangerous for 2026 T20 WC with Bumrah, Varun, Arshdeep, Shami
addition to Axer, Hardik, Washi very threatening. #StaraiKelingal #JioStar @StarSportsTamil
— Ravishankar Ponnusamy (@RaviShankaar592) January 28, 2025
FIVE wicket haul vs South Africa.
FIVE wicket haul vs England.VARUN RULING T20I FOR INDIA…!!!!
pic.twitter.com/TOywczYtGc
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 28, 2025
Excellent Bowling Varun Chakravarthy
— Neeraj Roy Kumar (Modi Ka Parivar) (@NeerajRoyKumar) January 28, 2025
WHAT A SPELL FROM VARUN CHAKRAVARTHY!
5 wickets for just 24 runs!
THE UNSTOPPABLE MAN SINCE HIS COMEBACK
— tayyaba Fatima (@Sweetheart_804) January 28, 2025
#INDvENG #championstrophy25
Another 5 wickets from Varun Chakravarthy @varunchakra3 @BCCI should be included in the Champion Trophy #ODI Squad
Because he is one of the match winners in our team— Gopinath (@GopinathAsokan) January 28, 2025
What a series Varun Chakravarthy is having! Man deserved a spot in Champions Trophy
— Paulami Sen (@Paulami309) January 28, 2025
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