IND vs ENG: Varun Chakaravarthy shines with second 5-wicket haul in T20Is
Xtra Time Web Desk: Varun Chakaravarthy’s remarkable comeback to the Indian team continues to grab headlines as the mystery spinner claimed his second 5-wicket haul in T20Is during the third match against England on Tuesday, January 28, in Rajkot. By achieving this feat, Varun joined the elite list of Indian bowlers—Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Kuldeep Yadav—who have taken more than one 5-wicket haul in the shortest format.
Varun’s scalps included Jos Buttler, Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, and Jofra Archer, dismantling England’s batting lineup. The spinner, who was instrumental on India’s South Africa tour where he secured his first 5-wicket haul, has been a standout performer in the current series. After taking three wickets in the Kolkata opener and two in the Chennai match, Varun’s stellar performance in Rajkot took his wicket tally to 10 in the series—a record for an Indian bowler in a bilateral T20I series against England.
Varun Chakaravarthy has taken the most T20I wickets since his return to international cricket ????
— 100MB (@100MasterBlastr) January 28, 2025
How many more can he grab today? ????#VarunChakaravarthy #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/2OdyeT2kjf
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Introduced at the end of the powerplay, Varun brought the game under control after Ben Duckett was building momentum for England. His dismissal of Jos Buttler was a pivotal moment, aided by Sanju Samson’s brilliant decision to call for a review. The wicket marked the start of England’s collapse as they lost wickets in quick succession.
Smith became Varun’s next victim after initially punishing the bowler with a six, only to be dismissed soon after. Overton was cleaned up on the very next delivery, putting Varun on a hat-trick and placing India firmly in control. Varun’s final over sealed the deal, with Carse caught in the deep and Archer falling prey to his deceptive spin, leaving England reeling.
Double-wicket over ????
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 28, 2025
Completion of fifer for Varun Chakaravarthy ????
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/amaTrbtzzJ#TeamIndia | #INDvENG | @chakaravarthy29 | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/ne0Ze0lppj
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Finishing with figures of 5/24 in four overs, Varun not only secured a commanding win for India but also solidified his position as one of the premier T20I bowlers in the team. His ability to maintain pressure and deliver breakthroughs at crucial moments continues to be a game-changer for India in the series.
