Varun exorcises ghosts of the past with a deadly spell

Varun proved to be Rohit’s trump card.
| Photo Credit: AP

Varun Chakarvarathy admitted he was overwhelmed with emotions during his first spell against New Zealand on Sunday, considering he did not have fond memories at this stadium in the past.

“The first spell of mine, I was a bit nervous because of the emotions of whatever happened four years ago. It was playing with me and I was trying to keep it down and control it. But Virat, Rohit and Hardik told me to calm down. They were constantly talking to me, which helped,” said Varun after his first Player-of-the-Match performance in just his second ODI.

“In 2021, I didn’t have a great tournament (T20 World Cup) here, but I know I did bowl decently, but the results were not good. But it all looks good right now, and the team is doing well,” he said.

The 33-year-old felt playing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in the last two years helped sharpen his game for the 50-over format.

“The way I sequence my deliveries and construct an over is different in one-dayers. It (playing the Hazare Trophy) really helped me understand when I can bowl my incoming, outgoing or top-spinner and gave me a sense of awareness when to bowl what, which is different to what I am used to in T20s,” Varun added.