Surya hails Varun’s magical spell, says ‘getting five-for in T20I is…’

India captain Suryakumar Yadav heaped praise on Varun Chakravarthy after the leg-spinner claimed a five-wicket haul in the second T20I against the West Indies on Sunday. India won the match by 8 wickets, clinching the series 2-0.

Varun’s 5-17, the best figures by an Indian bowler in a T20I, paved the way for a comfortable victory. Surya was impressed by the way Varun bowled, claiming it is difficult to achieve such feat in the shortest format of the game.

“To get a five-for in T20I is something magical. I’ve been watching Varun closely in the last 2-3 years, he has improved as a bowler, and you can see he is bowling with confidence, especially today,” Surya said in the post-match presentation.

“The wickets we got were quite quick in this match. It’s an unbelievable performance by Varun,” he added.

Varun was also impressive in the first T20I, taking 2-19, but he took the game by storm on Sunday. With his googlies and wrist spin, he completely bamboozled the West Indies batters, dismissing the dangerous Nicholas Pooran, Brandon King, Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd, and Akeal Hosein.

“It is amazing. To see all the planning come together and getting those wickets today, I’m very happy. I just kept trusting the plan, bowling consistently. I didn’t overthink. I wanted to focus on my bowling, keep things simple, and bowl with good pace and accuracy,” Varun said.

The leg-spinner has been working on his variations and the result is there for everyone to see. He bowled with precision, making full use of the surface in Guyana.

“He is working hard on his skills. His bowling is top class,” Surya further added.

India’s win was also due to their strong batting performance. They chased down a target of 141 with ease, with Surya and Tilak Varma scoring half-centuries. India will be looking to maintain their winning momentum in the third and final T20I.