'Would have forgotten him if not for the IPL' - Aakash Chopra on Varun Chakarvarthy
Chakravarthy was awarded the Player of the Series accolade for his 14-wicket display in the recently concluded T20I series against England.
Varun Chakravarthy's comeback to international cricket has been nothing short of sensational. Donning the India Blues after almost three years, he has been truly remarkable in the T20I series against Bangladesh, South Africa, and now England. He was deservedly adjudged the Player of the Series award for the 14 wickets he scalped in the five T20I against England.
Former cricketer-turned-commentator, Aakash Chopra, showered praise on how the mystery spinner had risen to the occasion up until now.
"In bowling, you can't look beyond Varun Chakravarthy. The job he has done in this entire series, whenever he rolled his arm over, he picked up wickets. The rise and rise of Varun Chakaravarthy is a testament that the guy has the might because comebacks are difficult.
Chopra felt Chakravarthy's continuous run in the past few seasons of the Indian Premier League played a huge role in the international success he has been tasting of late.
"Secondly, it shows the might of the IPL. We deride it at times, a lot of people say that things went bad because of the IPL, but you would have forgotten Varun Chakaravarthy if not for the IPL. So, him playing continuously in the IPL, performing well there, improving himself, and then getting a chance here (in the T20Is), you feel at home because the pressure is almost similar," added Chopra.
Also Read: 'We don't want to fear losing a game of cricket' - Gautam Gambhir on Indian team's approach in T20Is
You feel you have done all of this earlier and it's slightly easier: Chopra
Chopra elaborated on how the cash-rich league had played a crucial role in acclimatising Chakaravarthy to the demands of international cricket in advance.
"The crowd and atmosphere are exactly the same. You also bowl to the same batters. There too, you bowl to Jos Buttler and Liam Livingstone, and Phil Salt in the nets. So, you feel you have done all of this earlier and it's slightly easier. At least, you feel comfortable. So, I am really happy for Varun Chakravarthy. He is the only Indian bowler to take double-digit wickets in one series," he added.
India ended up winning the T20I series via an utterly dominating 4-1 margin. Focus now moves to the 50-over leg of the white-ball series. The first of the three ODIs are scheduled to commence on Thursday, February 6.
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