“I can’t be compared to R Ashwin”: Star India spinner gives verdict on his career
Varun Chakravarthy, the star Indian spinner from Tamil Nadu, shared his honest thoughts on the comparisons to Ravichandran Ashwin, acknowledging that he hasn’t yet reached a point where such discussions are relevant. Ashwin, a stalwart of Indian cricket, recently shocked the cricketing world by announcing his retirement from international cricket midway through the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. His final appearance came in the pink-ball Test at Adelaide Oval, where he scored 29 runs across two innings and took a wicket.
Chakravarthy, who has emerged as India’s primary spinner in the T20I format following his remarkable comeback last year, emphasized that Ashwin’s legacy is too big to measure up to at this stage of his career. The 33-year-old spinner pointed out that he’s far from being in the same league as Ashwin, particularly given his towering achievements.
“Comparing myself to someone like Ashwin feels like a huge leap. He has played in all three formats, while I’m only making my comeback. I haven’t reached a point where I can be compared to him. But when you make it to the Indian team, the goal is always to play for a long time. I’m focusing on my own process and letting my hard work take me as far as it can. I prefer not to think about trying to fill someone else’s shoes. Ashwin’s achievements are incredible, with over 500 Test wickets, and I’m still far from that milestone,” Varun shared ahead of the second T20I in Chennai.
Since his return to the Indian team after the T20 World Cup last year, Chakravarthy has been exceptional, claiming 20 wickets in his last eight T20I appearances at an impressive average of 11.70. His best figures are 5/17, and he was the standout bowler in the senior opener against England, taking 3/23 to help bowl them out for just 132.
Reflecting on his approach during the second T20I in Chennai, Chakravarthy mentioned that his plans remain consistent, tailored for specific batters. However, he noted that he also remains adaptable, adjusting based on how the batters approach him in real-time. “You typically have specific strategies in place for certain batters, and that’s usually the game plan. But if they try something different, it’s more about going with your instincts,” he explained.
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