A mystery spinner, Varun Chakravarthy made quite an impressive start to his ODI career for India in the second ODI against England at Cuttack. Coming into the playing XI in place of Kuldeep Yadav, Chakravarthy was introduced early in the innings as England got off to an attacking start. The debutant showed great control and accuracy to stem the run-flow, building pressure in the middle overs even as the England openers went strong during the powerplay.
Breaking the Partnership
Bringing the attack up to the ninth over, Chakravarthy faced Salt and Ben Duckett, and getting some bouncy balls proved threatening to batters. Also within his very next over of delivery, a poor judgment off Ben Duckett helped Ravindra Jadeja effect an effortless mid-on catch by top edge and Salt failed when he sought an acceleration as salt top edged with a misplaced short ball. This breakthrough shifted the game’s momentum, putting England on the back foot.
Controlling the Middle Overs
Chakravarthy then continued with his spell, bowling tight lines as England’s middle order could not get into full flow. The six conceded to Harry Brook in the 19th over notwithstanding, overall discipline from him meant runs did not come easy. England’s batsmen seemed to struggle to read his variations, and this spell set up choking the opposition in the middle overs. Even when Joe Root and Liam Livingstone tried to consolidate the innings, Chakravarthy’s deliveries kept them in check, conceding only three boundaries in his spell.
Aiding India’s Bowling Strategy
He also played the important role of applying pressure from one end to assist other bowlers, particularly Ravindra Jadeja, to reap success. With Chakravarthy tying down the England batsmen, Jadeja took full advantage and picked two vital wickets thanks to some forced mistakes. This set the tone of their strategic bowling and meant India enjoyed better periods during England’s innings.
England’s Late Surge
Despite the tight middle overs from India, England managed a strong finish with some hard-hitting in the last ten overs. Liam Livingstone’s 41 off 32 balls helped them cross the 300-run mark for the first time in the series. But three quick run-outs in the death overs pegged them back to prevent them from reaching an even more imposing total. In the end, England finished with 304 runs, a respectable score that had it not been for India’s disciplined bowling effort, could easily have been much higher.
Impact and Takeaways
Chakravarthy’s debut showed that he could be a real mystery spinner. The economy rate and the way he contains set batters have been positive, indicating that he can be long-term in white-ball cricket for India. In the Champions Trophy, the series might be a good factor in selecting him into the squad. There is a gradual build-up for a strong attack, but mostly Chakravarthy gives an X-factor to the way they strategize.
For those fans who would want to follow such thrilling performances, the ability to watch live cricket for free and make live cricket match prediction on sites like Starexch ensures that they will never miss out on these crucial moments. With India looking to dominate in most of the upcoming tournaments, talents like Chakravarthy will be instrumental in shaping the team’s success.
This is a case where India wants to monopolize world cricket, and this kind of spinner like Chakravarthy adds new aggression to their bowling line. As cricket gets upgraded, the art of mastering spin becomes important, and that’s something that the godfather of cricket has always guided India in strategizing on Starexch.
FAQs
1. How did Varun Chakravarthy fare in his first match?
Varun Chakravarthy bowled economically, taking one important wicket and giving away just 54 runs in his full quota of overs. His tight bowling helped India keep a stranglehold on the middle overs.
2. What big wicket did Chakravarthy take in the match?
He removed Phil Salt, who tried to play an aggressive shot but top-edged it to Ravindra Jadeja at mid-on.
3. How did England complete their innings given Chakravarthy’s control?
Dancing in the middle overs, England reached 304 runs, courtesy a late surge from Liam Livingstone. Three run-outs in the death overs denied them an even bigger total.
4. Why is Varun Chakravarthy an asset to India?
Being able to bowl economically, and hoodwinking batters with his variations, he is a potent weapon that could prove more worthy in the shorter formats of the game. His performance against England showed he might be handy in future tournaments.
5. Where will fans watch India’s upcoming matches?
Fans can watch Live Cricket Free on Winexch as the action unfolds, never wanting to miss an exciting encounter with India.