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Varun Chakravarthy showcased a spin-bowling masterclass in the first T20I of the five-game series between India and England in Kolkata. His impactful double-wicket over disrupted England’s batting lineup, amplifying India’s control over the match. Complementing Arshdeep Singh‘s early breakthrough, Varun’s pinpoint accuracy has solidified India’s dominance in the game.
Varun Chakravarthy’s double blow shakes England
In a game-changing seventh over, Varun displayed his exceptional skills to deliver a double strike that stunned England. The first to fall was Harry Brook, who had shown promise with an aggressive 17 off 14 balls, including two fours and a six. Varun deceived Brook with a wrong’un that drifted in and spun sharply, sneaking through the pad, after taking a thin edge from the bat, to hit the stumps. Brook, playing for a straighter delivery, was undone by the sharp turn and an unfortunate edge, ending what looked like a potential match-defining innings.
Two balls later, Varun unleashed another gem to dismiss Liam Livingstone for a duck. The delivery, angled into the right-hander, drifted in and skidded through with pace. Livingstone, expecting turn that never came, played down the wrong line, leaving his stumps rattled. The accuracy and guile in Varun’s bowling dismantled England’s middle order, leaving them reeling at 65/4. These two dismissals highlighted Varun’s ability to outthink batters under pressure, turning the tide firmly in India’s favour.
Here’s the video:
Timber strikes ✅
A double-wicket over ✅
Varun Chakaravarthy picks up two! 👏 👏
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— BCCI (@BCCI) January 22, 2025
Also READ: IND vs ENG: Here’s why Mohammed Shami is not playing today’s match at Eden Gardens
England’s early struggles in Kolkata against India
The first ten overs of England’s innings saw a blend of aggressive batting and tight bowling from India. England lost Phil Salt for a duck in the opening over to Arshdeep, who continued his brilliance by removing Ben Duckett shortly after, leaving the visitors reeling at 17/2 by the third over. Jos Buttler then took charge, showcasing his aggressive intent with a flurry of boundaries. His unbeaten 48 off 30 deliveries, laced with six fours and one six, steadied the innings amidst the early setbacks.
Arshdeep set the tone with his impeccable line and length, finishing his three overs with impressive figures of 2/10 at an economy of just 3.33. Varun complemented him perfectly, bagging 2/16 in his three overs, dismantling England’s middle order. Ravi Bishnoi kept the pressure intact, conceding only six runs in his opening over. Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel were expensive but played supporting roles as England struggled to accelerate after the powerplay. By the halfway mark, England had reached 77/4, with Buttler anchoring the innings. The Indian bowlers will look to capitalize on their momentum in the remaining overs to restrict the visitors to a modest total.
