There’s more work to do, says Varun Chakravarthy after ‘match-winning performance’ against England

India spinner Varun Chakravarthy delivered a Player of the Match performance against England in the first T20I at Eden Gardens, showcasing his mystery spin and tactical acumen. However, the Kolkata local hero remains determined to further refine his skills, rating his performance as “7 out of 10” despite his impactful spell.

Returning to familiar territory, Chakravarthy used his extensive knowledge of the Eden Gardens pitch to dismantle England’s hard-hitting middle order. In a surface often favoring seamers, he relied on bounce rather than spin to outwit batters, a tactic honed through his experience in the IPL.

“I am used to seeing such pitches in the IPL. I know that it is for the seamers, but I also know there are certain lengths which are helpful for me,” Chakravarthy said. “The only way I can beat the batsmen is through bounce.”

Chakravarthy’s standout performance came after Arshdeep Singh set the stage by dismissing England’s openers, Ben Duckett and Phil Salt, cheaply. With the platform set, Chakravarthy deployed his variations to great effect, dismissing England skipper Jos Buttler, Harry Brook, and Liam Livingstone.

Harry Brook’s promising partnership with Jos Buttler was cut short when Chakravarthy struck, dismissing Brook for 17. On the very next delivery, Liam Livingstone departed for a two-ball duck, leaving England in a precarious position. Despite the setbacks, England’s hopes were pinned on Buttler, who showcased fine form with a well-crafted 44-ball 68. However, Chakravarthy delivered yet another blow, deceiving Buttler with a clever delivery that was caught by Nitish Reddy at deep square leg.

Chakravarthy finished with figures of 3/23 in his four overs, playing a pivotal role in restricting England to 132. India chased the target with ease, securing a comfortable seven-wicket win.

Despite his match-defining performance, Chakravarthy remains focused on continuous improvement. “I am trying to keep it away from their arc. Every over at Eden is challenging, especially against batters like Jos Buttler,” he said. “The last over was tricky, but by God’s grace, I succeeded. I’m still 7 on 10—there’s more work to do.”