India’s Varun Chakravarthy delivered a stunning performance in the second T20I against South Africa, claiming career-best figures of 5/17. His exceptional spell helped India recover from a precarious position, turning the tide in their favor after a challenging start.
Varun Chakravarthy’s Stellar Comeback
Since his return to the Indian cricket team, Varun Chakravarthy has been nothing short of sensational. In his last five matches, he has taken 12 wickets at an astounding average of 8.84 and an economy rate of 5.75. This remarkable form has solidified his role as India’s first-choice spinner.
In the second T20I held in Gqeberha, India struggled initially, managing only 124 runs after being put to bat first by South Africa’s captain, Aiden Markram. The hosts seemed poised for victory, reaching 33/1 before Chakravarthy unleashed his mystery spin.
Chakravarthy’s Masterclass in Spin Bowling
Chakravarthy’s spell began with the dismissal of Markram on just the second ball of the sixth over. He bowled a brilliant googly that left Markram bewildered, leading to his stumps being shattered.
He continued to dominate, taking out Reeza Hendricks and Marco Jansen in quick succession. By the time he stepped up to bowl the 13th over, South Africa was already reeling at 66 for 5.
In that over, Chakravarthy delivered a double blow by dismissing Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller on consecutive balls. Miller fell for a golden duck, further amplifying the pressure on the South African side.
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The Turning Point
Thanks to Chakravarthy’s stellar performance, South Africa crumbled to 66 for 6 after just 12.2 overs. They were left needing an additional 58 runs to secure victory. The Kolkata Knight Riders spinner finished his spell with figures of 4 overs, 17 runs, and five wickets—a personal best in T20I cricket.
As the match progressed towards its climax, South Africa found themselves at 88 for 7 after 16 overs, still requiring 37 runs to win with Tristan Stubbs and Gerald Coetzee at the crease.
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