Champions Trophy 2025: Varun Chakravarthy comes up with cheeky reply for secrets behind his bowling variations

Team India have been on a winning streak in the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025. On Sunday (March 2), it was the battle for being the Group topper between two teams who were yet to lose a match. However, even after getting restricted to 249 by New Zealand, courtesy of mystery Varun Chakravarthy's five-wicket haul while on his ICC event debut, the Men in Blue remained unbeatable.

Hence, it was no surprise that during the post-match press conference, a journalist came up with a straightforward question for the willy spinner. Chakravarthy was asked about the types of variations he possesses in his bowling armour. He responded, nevertheless, was anything but forthright. A mystery spinner guarding his secrets? Completely understandable. In fact, it’s almost a power move. Quite fascinatingly, cricket wasn’t always Varun Chakravarthy’s lookout. He revealed that he considered different career paths for himself which included architecture and filmmaking, until he was 26

"Sir, basically the ball goes inside, outside, and goes straight. So, you can keep it that way, but there are minute changes that you can do with that also," Varun said in his cheeky reply to the journalist as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo.

"Before that, my dreams were all being an architect and making movies. So, I've had different career paths," he added further.

But, at the age of 33, he has been making a great effort for a place in India's Champions Trophy semi-final playing XI, having collapsed New Zealand with a fantastic 5/42 in his second ODI. An IPL gamer with just only one first-class game to his name, Varun is a symbol of modern cricket—treating the sport less as a lifelong passion and more as a "career path." Yet, his persuasiveness is rooted in logic and a deep understanding of his game and craft.

Also Read- Varun Chakaravarthy has created selection dilemma for semi-finals: Ambati Rayudu

"In T20, my sequencing of balls—how I construct an over—is totally different from the 50-over format. The last two years in the Vijay Hazare Trophy really helped me understand when to bowl my incoming delivery, outgoing delivery, straighter one, or topspin," Varun explained while reflecting on his cricketing journey so far.

He doesn't bowl too many variations to us in nets' - Rohit on Varun Chakravarthy's bowling

Besides, Varun Chakravarthy felt little pressure when playing against New Zealand, credits to India’s strong spin attack of Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel for making it easier. But he remains quiet of revealing too much. Even his captain, Rohit Sharma, supports and respects his secrecy. 

"He doesn't bowl too many variations to us in the nets. Maybe he doesn’t want to show them even to us. But that’s a good thing. He has got certain weapons he wants to unleash when it actually matters," said Rohit in the earlier phases of the Champions Trophy.

With the semi-final against Australia likely to be played on a used surface, India may find it hard to leave him out now in Dubai.