India’s spin-bowling sensation Varun Chakravarthy recalled a tough phase of his life, revealing that he received threats via phone calls after his dismal performance in India’s T20 World Cup 2021 campaign in the UAE. Varun Chakravarthy said he was warned against returning to India and was followed all the way to his house in Chennai after India’s disappointing early exit from the tournament.
Despite his late arrival to professional cricket, Varun Chakravarthy has carved a niche for himself as one of India’s most dependable spinners. He played a crucial role in India’s recent ICC Champions Trophy victory, finishing as the tournament’s second-highest wicket-taker. In the finals against New Zealand, his crucial breakthroughs put the opposition on the back foot, solidifying his reputation as a match-winner.
The Indian team put in an excellent performance in the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The Men in Blue remained unbeaten throughout the competition and defeated the likes of Bangladesh, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Australia to get their hands on the title.
With team India registering an emphatic win, it is interesting to note that the performance of star spinner Varun Chakravarthy was one that stood out quite often. The 33-year-old was exceptional for India throughout the tournament, and his performances were crucial in the side winning the title.
Varun Chakravarthy’s cricketing years a glimpse
Varun Chakravarthy’s breakthrough came in the 2017-18 season when he made an impression in Tamil Nadu’s domestic circuit. Playing for Jubilee Cricket Club in a one-day tournament, he picked up 31 wickets in just seven matches. Varun Chakravarthy unorthodox mystery spin became his unique selling point, baffling batsmen with an arsenal of variations.
Varun Chakravarthy refined his skills further in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), where he played a key role in Madurai’s title-winning campaign. His performances did not go unnoticed, and soon, IPL scouts took an interest in him.
In 2019, Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) secured him for a staggering Rs 8.4 crore in the IPL auction. However, the much-anticipated breakthrough turned into another setback as injuries and inconsistency hampered his season. For a moment, it seemed as if his long-awaited opportunity had slipped through his fingers.
But Varun Chakravarthy was no stranger to comebacks. In 2020, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) took a chance on him, and this time, he delivered. With 17 wickets, including a remarkable five-wicket haul against Delhi Capitals, he became one of the tournament’s standout performers. His performances earned him a national call-up for India’s tour of Australia, though a fitness issue delayed his debut. When he finally got his chance in 2021, he proved his mettle on the international stage.
Varun Chakravarthy played three matches for India but failed to take even a single wicket. He was part of India’s bowling line-up in their infamous 10-wicket loss to Pakistan in Dubai — India’s first-ever defeat to Pakistan in a World Cup fixture. Varun Chakravarthy made a stunning return to international cricket in October 2024 after a three-year hiatus, following a successful stint in the Indian Premier League with KKR during their victorious campaign last year.
Since his comeback, Varun Chakravarthy has been in fine form, with his T20I heroics earning him a spot in India’s Champions Trophy squad. The mystery spinner made his mark in Dubai, taking nine wickets in three matches, including a five-wicket haul in a group-stage game against New Zealand.
In the semi-final against Australia, Varun Chakravarthy took the crucial wicket of Travis Head to help India overcome their long-standing rivals. In the final, he claimed two wickets against New Zealand as Rohit Sharma’s men lifted the trophy on Sunday, 9 March.
Having exorcised his demons in Dubai during the Champions Trophy, Varun Chakravarthy described India’s triumphant campaign as an unbelievable experience. The spinner had only made his ODI debut in January during a home series against England before being called up for the Champions Trophy. He initially warmed the bench against Bangladesh and Pakistan before cementing his place in the XI.
However, it was not always easy going for Varun Chakravarthy. The star spinner is now enjoying some good form, but back when he made his debut for the Indian team, he had to undergo some harsh criticism from the fans, mainly due to his performance in the 2021 T20 World Cup. Varun Chakravarthy revealed that he received threats from the fans after his subpar show in the T20 World Cup, and some even followed him home.
Indian cricketer Varun Chakravarthy revisits shocking details of dark phase in 2021 after 2025 Champions Trophy triumph
Star Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy has made shocking revelations about receiving threats after his performance during the T20 World Cup 2021. The leg-spinner has disclosed that he had to hide himself on a few occasions as people followed him closely to track him down.
Varun Chakravarthy, who played a massive role in India’s recent Champions Trophy 2025 win, wasn’t at his best during the T20 World Cup in 2021 in the three matches he played. He conceded 33 runs in four wicketless overs during India’s landmark defeat to Pakistan in that event and wasn’t recalled until last year. However, the spinner is now among the first names on the team sheet in the white-ball formats following his recent performances.
Speaking to anchor Gopinath in a YouTube show, Chakravarthy said he reflects on those tough times. He stated that he is proud of how much he has improved now and wishes to take it to the next level.
“After the 2021 World Cup, I received threat calls. ‘Don’t come to India. If you try, you won’t be able to.’ People came up to my house, tracked me down – I had to hide at times. When I was returning from the airport, a couple of people followed me on their bikes. It happens. I can understand fans are emotional.
But when I look back at those things and the praise I am receiving now, I am happy. I am not able to believe that all good things are happening in one go. I want to take it to the next level. I have faced setbacks, and I know how bad the criticism can be,” he said.
The Tamil Nadu cricketer made his ODI debut only in February 2025, roughly a week before the Champions Trophy. Yet, he took a fifer on his Champions Trophy debut and claimed nine wickets in the competition as India beat New Zealand to claim the title.
Varun Chakravarthy, who was added to India’s ODI squad to face England at the 11th hour, said that he had hardly packed anything before leaving for Nagpur. He added:
“I think the Champions Trophy was a huge confidence booster because I played only four matches. And when I performed well in those matches, I felt I belonged and that there was a place for me. But I didn’t expect this success. After playing the T20I series finale in Mumbai, I was preparing to return to Chennai. I even got the tickets for Chennai.
But the next morning, I was told that I was in the one-day team too and was asked to come to Nagpur. I didn’t expect it. I didn’t take any clothes or anything for that. I asked my family to send me stuff to Nagpur.”
Varun Chakravarthy will look to continue his fine run when he turns up for defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025, starting March 22.