Varun Chakravarthy breaks R Ashwin Record: It has been a dream comeback for mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy to the Indian T20I team since last year. Three years on from getting dropped following a terrible time at the T20 World Cup 2021, Chakravarthy has simply been outstanding over the last three T20I series, turning the momentum of the games with his spectacular middle-over spells.
In 10 matches since his comeback last year, Varun Chakravarthy has taken 27 wickets at an unbelievable average of only 10.96 and a superb strike rate of just 8.8. His economy in this period has been 7.40. He’s been both a wicket-taker and a run-stopper.
He’s taken two five-wicket hauls as well, the joint-most by an Indian bowler in T20Is. However, both of Chakravarthy’s five-wicket hauls—vs South Africa in Gqeberha and vs England in Rajkot—ended in losing causes.
Varun Chakravarthy breaks R Ashwin Record
During the IND vs ENG 3rd T20I in Rajkot, Chakravarthy went past a massive record of former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi.
Chakravarthy has taken 10 wickets in three matches in this series so far. His 10 wickets now are the most wickets an Indian bowler has claimed in a bilateral T20I series at home.
This record was previously jointly held by R Ashwin and Bishnoi, who both had hauls of nine wickets in a home series. Ashwin attained it in 2016 against Sri Lanka, and Bishnoi against Australia in 2023. The fact that Chakravarthy has broken this record in only three games gives him the opportunity to add more wickets to his tally in the next two outings.
Most wickets for India in a bilateral T20I series in India:
- Varun Chakravarthy – 10* vs England, 2025
- R Ashwin – 9 vs Sri Lanka, 2016
- Ravi Bishnoi – 9 vs Australia, 2023
Despite Chakravarthy’s heroics, India lost the Rajkot T20I by 26 runs, falling way short of England’s total of 171 runs on a two-paced pitch that didn’t have true bounce.
Chakravarthy was still given the Man of the Match award, his second in this series. He said,
“Sad we didn’t make it this match, but that’s the nature of this game. Got to move on and get ready for the next match. When you are playing for the country, you have to take responsibility. I am able to do that to an extent. I don’t complain (about one over spells), because there have been times when I have bowled four overs on the trot. I am ready for everything.”
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