“It feels surreal,” said Varun Chakravarthy, the architect turned mystery spinner, after he landed a first call-up in India for the T20 series in Australia following his exploits for Kolkata Knight Riders at the ongoing IPL. The 29-year-old, who only started getting serious about his spinning bowling game in 2018, said he did not expect to be chosen for the national team. He has played only 12 T20s and has appeared in only one top-class game.
“After the match ended, I found out (about my selection in the Indian team). I keep using the same word over and over again, it feels surreal, ”he told BCCI.tv after the game against Kings XI Punjab on Monday night.
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“My basic goal was to play for the team regularly and take action and contribute to their victories. Hopefully I can do the same for India. I’m not very active on social media and I have the selectors to thank for keeping their faith in me. I really have no words. ”Varun took a five-wicket drive against Delhi Capitals early in the competition, forcing the national selectors to take note.
“I practically started my spin-bowling in 2018, that’s when I got my breakthrough at TNPL, it’s been high and low; last year, I didn’t have many opportunities and I got injured, I’m grateful to have come back this year, “he said.
“I’ve been working hard, but the motivation and the faith come from many people around me,” Varun had said in the post-match presentation against the Capitals.
“Around 2015, when I was not making a lot of money (the change from architect to cricket player), I was working as a freelancer and couldn’t meet my needs, I thought I would do something different, that’s when I fulfilled cricket.
“I still do, I also like (being an architect),” he had said.
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