IND vs BAN, 1st T20I: Varun Chakravarthy makes India comeback after three years

Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy made his comeback to India's T20I squad after a long gap of three years during the first T20I against Bangladesh. Chakravarthy's last international appearance came during the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE. The mystery spinner, who had been out of favor due to injuries and the emergence of younger spinners, was finally recalled for the first T20I against Bangladesh. The comeback was largely attributed to his stellar performances in the IPL 2024, where he finished second in the list of highest wicket-takers.

Chakravarthy, 33, had been on the sidelines for an extended period, missing 86 matches between his last appearance and the game against Bangladesh—marking the second-highest number of T20Is missed between two appearances for India. Only Khaleel Ahmed (104 matches) has missed more.

Most T20Is missed between two appearances (India)

104 Khaleel Ahmed (2019-24)

86 Varun Chakravarthy (2021-24) *

73 Sanju Samson (2015-20)

70 Shivam Dube (2020-23)

Chakravarthy, who burst onto the scene later in his career, had his breakthrough during the 2020 IPL while playing for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where a five-wicket haul against Delhi Capitals earned him a spot in the national side. However, his international



outings did not go as planned, with only two wickets from six games at a high average.

In the 2024 IPL season, Chakravarthy was a key figure for KKR, picking up 21 wickets at an economy rate of 8.04. His efforts helped KKR clinch their first title since 2014, putting him firmly back in contention for the national side. His ability to turn games on flat batting surfaces where teams often crossed 200 runs made him an indispensable asset.

Earlier this year, Chakravarthy reflected on his time away from the national team, acknowledging how difficult it was to be sidelined. "That's how life is; it is unfair. It was very hard on me," he said, reflecting on his absence. After struggling with injuries and losing his place, his determination, coupled with his IPL success, paved the way for his return to the international arena.

IND vs BAN PLAYING XIS

Bangladesh (Playing XI): Litton Das(w), Najmul Hossain Shanto(c), Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam

India (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson(w), Suryakumar Yadav(c), Nitish Reddy, Hardik Pandya, Riyan Parag, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Mayank Yadav