Varun Chakravarthy on his 5 for 42 vs New Zealand, the men's ODI bowling performance of the year
The India bowler's five-for in the Champions Trophy was voted the men's ODI bowling performance of the year
Varun will not have had pleasant memories of Dubai when he was called up at the last minute to join the India squad for the Champions Trophy there in 2025. Only three international matches old, he had been thrust into the T20 World Cup in the UAE in 2021 and came back with no wickets in three matches, as part of the only Indian side to not make the knockouts of an ICC tournament in nine years. That was only ten days or so after he went wicketless on a slow surface in the IPL final, also in Dubai, and it kept him out of international cricket for three years.
Three years and a few months later, only one match into his ODI career, Varun was called up to Dubai again after India landed there and saw the pitches were going to be spin-friendly. In India's third match, he found himself in the XI against a side that had, earlier in the season, beaten them in a Test series in India for the first time in 12 years.
Introduced inside the powerplay, he took his first international wicket in Dubai in his second over. He would go on to add four to it, and then take two each in the semi-final and the final to exorcise the Dubai demons once and for all.
Key moment
New Zealand were well in the contest when Varun was brought back on in the 34th over. They needed 113 runs with six wickets in hand. In his second over back, though, Varun tilted the scales with the wicket of the dangerous Glenn Phillips. His second spell read 5-0-26-4.
The numbers
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34 Number of balls, before this match, that New Zealand's batters had faced from Varun in T20Is and in the IPL.
What they said
"I think Varun has been exceptional in the last 1-1.5 years, consistently winning matches for whichever team he has played for, whether it's Tamil Nadu or KKR or for India in T20Is. And now, today, getting an opportunity in ODIs."
- Former India captain and coach Anil Kumble
- Former India captain and coach Anil Kumble
The closest contender
Jayden Seales
6 for 18 vs Pakistan, third ODI, Tarouba
Seales took out the Pakistan top four inside the first ten overs and then came back to apply the final touches as West Indies beat Pakistan in an ODI series for the first time in 34 years. With ten wickets in three ODIs, Seales was also the player of the series.
6 for 18 vs Pakistan, third ODI, Tarouba
Seales took out the Pakistan top four inside the first ten overs and then came back to apply the final touches as West Indies beat Pakistan in an ODI series for the first time in 34 years. With ten wickets in three ODIs, Seales was also the player of the series.