Varun Chakaravarthy, a 27-year old mystery spinner, has caught the eye with his miserly bowling in the 2018 Sankar Cement-TNPL for Siechem Madurai Panthers. The bowler has managed an excellent economy of 5.39 and taken seven wickets from seven matches at the end of the league stage.

Interestingly, he became a bowler late in his career. At 13, he started as a wicketkeeper-batsman. “I played a lot of cricket until the age of 17. I then enrolled to the SRM University, Chennai for my architecture course and I had to drop cricket.”

Varun completed his course and worked as an architect for the next two years. The undying passion for cricket resurfaced, and he soon resumed playing in local tennis ball tournaments.

“After college, I bowled pace but an injury forced me to take up spin and carrom balls. First and second division cricket leagues were not the right place to try it out so I played in the fourth division where I practiced the skill,” reveals Varun.

The spinner was a part of Karaikudi Kaalai last year where he played only one game and did not get the opportunity to bowl. Earlier this year, Dinesh Karthik invited Varun to attend Kolkata Knight Riders practice sessions where the bowler learned many tricks from experienced bowlers.

Speaking about his bowling, Varun said, “I have eight variations right now. Before I begin my run-up, I fix the variation that I want to bowl. I like to keep things simple.”