Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth has showered praise on Varun Chakravarthy after Suryakumar Yadav’s team claimed a 17-run win against the Netherlands at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Wednesday. Srikkanth opined that Chakravarthy sometimes goes under the radar and he doesn’t get the respect he deserves.
Chakravarthy returned with impressive figures of 3-14 in three overs he bowled against Scott Edwards’ team. In four matches of the tournament, Chakravarthy has scalped nine wickets at an average of 6.89, bowling only 12 overs.
Srikkanth said Chakravarthy would have been celebrated if he had been from Mumbai.
Kris Srikkanth said on his YouTube Channel, “If he was from Mumbai, he would have been celebrated way more. The Mumbai media is a thing where if someone performs, they celebrate him wildly. Here, Varun just comes in and bowls quietly. No one hypes him and talks about him. People have not decoded him at all. For a spinner, he has a long run-up and bowls effortlessly.”
“No one gives much credit to Varun Chakaravarthy. Bumrah is fantastic. You won’t get a bowler like Bumrah. But Varun Chakaravarthy doesn’t get the credit. Though Dube played an amazing innings, why couldn’t he have been a contender for the Man of the Match? Nobody thought of it. Dube only deserved the award, but as a bowler, 3/14 with all top-order wickets, Varun should be a contender for the Man of the Match. They hardly give the award to bowlers.”
Chakravarthy is currently the second highest-wicket taker in the ongoing T20I showpiece and the 1983 World Cup-winning player said the mystery is a strong contender for the Player of the Tournament award.
“He is the leader for the Player of the Tournament. Even if he gets hit, he gives away a maximum of 35 runs. And he takes a wicket or two in that, even then. But nobody gives him his actual due. He’s a modern-day great in the T20 format and has to be celebrated that way, which no one does. Nobody is able to play against him or even defend him. He is what Bumrah used to be a couple of years back. Bumrah is not at his peak now, though in this match, he returned to it,” said Srikkanth (via the aforementioned source).
India will take on South Africa in their opening game of the Super 8 stage at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on Sunday.
