'I had to change everything about my bowling' - Varun Chakaravarthy reveals his comeback story after epic five-for in 2nd T20I

Varun Chakaravarthy has been in scintillating form since he returned to the Indian team during the home series against Bangladesh after a three-year gap. The mystery spinner turned heads on Sunday, November 10, as he picked up a five-for in the second T20I between India and South Africa at St George's Park, Gqeberha.

While his remarkable performance wasn't enough for India to secure their 12th straight win in the shortest format of the game, it certainly earned the 33-year-old a lot of praise from fans as well as experts. After finishing with excellent figures of 5/17 from four overs, Chakaravarthy said that consistency and overspin are his two main weapons.

"It is a combination of both my consistency and overspin. The overspin I bowl has more bite from the pitch and hopefully I can keep doing that and hopefully I can keep contributing for the country," Chakaravarthy said while speaking exclusively on JioCinema after India’s three-wicket loss to South Africa in the second T20I.

Chakaravarthy debuted for India in 2021 against Sri Lanka and also played in the T20 World Cup later that year. However, after an insipid performance in the marquee event, the Bidar-born was dropped from the side. Chakaravarthy said that he watched videos of his bowling after being snubbed, figured out the areas where he needed improvement, and implemented the necessary changes.

“I had to go to the drawing board and check out all my videos. I figured out that I was bowling side spin, and it was not working out in the higher levels. So, I had to change everything about my bowling, and it took me two years and I started bowling in the local leagues and IPL also. So, it worked there, and I have started bowling it in the international stage and it’s working out for me," Chakaravarthy said.

More than confidence, I’d say I’m focusing more on clarity: Varun Chakaravarthy

The Tamil Nadu spinner said that he is focusing on clarity and that is helping him to do well for the national team. He also mentioned that he wants to have a longer run with the Indian team in his second stint.

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“More than confidence, I’d say I’m focusing more on clarity. That’s helping me more right now. Sometimes I feel confidence can lead me into a wrong direction and make me believe that I can do something impossible, so I feel focusing on clarity is better. I’m focused on that more," the Kolkata Knight Riders cricketer said.

“All I want is to have a longer run with the Indian Cricket Team and hopefully I can do it well," Chakaravarthy stated about his future goals.