Legendary Sunil Gavaskar has showered praise on Varun Chakravarthy after the first T20I against New Zealand, which India comprehensively won by 48 runs at Nagpur on Wednesday. Chakravarthy, the number one T20I bowler, returned with figures of 2-37 in his quota of four overs.

The mystery spinner accounted for Mark Chapman and Tim Robinson. Gavaskar said Chakravarthy’s body language was good even though he looked a bit rusty with the ball.

“Varun looked a little rusty, but that’s understandable. He picked up two wickets and the economy rate, when the batters are going hell-bent for leather, was pretty decent as well. The important thing is that his body language was good.

“Often, you know, his body language, sometimes when he’s taken for a few runs, can be a little bit down. That didn’t happen,” Gavaskar said on JioHotstar.

The former India captain added, “He (Varun) was walking back to the mark, upright, wasn’t looking fazed by the fact that he’d been hit for a couple of sixes, and that’s always a very good sign. He’s a magician, make no mistake. He bowls brilliantly.

“So yes, in this format or even in the 50-over format, which will be expensive, he just has to believe, ‘Yes, next over I’m going to get my two wickets,’ and that’s what he does.”

The Little Master showered praise on the team for coming up with a clinical performance in the opening T20I.

“You win the first game, that’s a ticked box for sure. Yes, within that ticked box, there will be other small boxes to be ticked off, but you know it’s always good to start the new year, a new campaign, with a win before the World Cup,” Gavaskar was quoted as saying.

“I think it’s always good to start with a win, so no complaints whatsoever. I think India did brilliantly to get to 238 and then they bowled really well. Yes, the odd catch went down, but all around the performance was very, very heartening.”

The second T20I between India and New Zealand will be played at Raipur on Friday.