Cricket fans, you know those moments when a bowler just seems to own a batter? That’s exactly what unfolded in Mullanpur on Thursday as Varun Chakravarthy bamboozled Reeza Hendricks yet again. In the second T20I of the India-South Africa series, the mystery spinner wasted no time, sending the South African opener packing with a vicious carrom ball on his very first delivery. It’s the kind of dismissal that reminds us why T20 cricket can swing on a single ball—and why Chakravarthy remains a nightmare for certain batters.
Setting the Stage in Mullanpur
India, riding high after a dominant 101-run victory in the series opener in Cuttack, won the toss and chose to bowl first at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium. Captain Suryakumar Yadav’s men were eager to build on their momentum, especially with the Proteas desperate to level the five-match series. The pitch in New Chandigarh looked balanced—offering something for the quicks early on but promising turn for the spinners as the game wore on.
South Africa started steadily. Openers Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks handled the new ball from Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah with confidence, racing to 38 without loss after four overs. Hendricks, in particular, looked assured, smashing a clean six off Bumrah to ease any nerves. But as we’ve seen before, comfort can turn to chaos when Chakravarthy enters the attack.
The Dismissal That Stole the Show
It was the fifth over, and Suryakumar turned to his go-to wrist wizard. Chakravarthy, with his unorthodox action and bag of tricks, floated one up on a good length. What looked like a routine pull shot for Hendricks turned disastrous—the ball, gripped like a carrom flick, skidded straight on with low bounce, beating the bat and crashing into the stumps. Hendricks, who had scratched together just 8 runs off 10 balls, trudged back to the pavilion, leaving South Africa at 38 for 1.
That carrom ball—deceptively simple yet devilishly effective—has become Chakravarthy’s signature weapon. It’s not just the skid; it’s the way it disguises itself amid his array of googlies and leg-spinners. In the heat of a T20 chase, one wrong read, and you’re history. Star Sports captured the frenzy on social media: “Varun Chakravarthy wastes no time, strikes on the very first ball! Team India right on top.” And boy, did it fire up the Indian camp.
De Kock steadied the ship after that, notching his 17th T20I fifty to keep South Africa in the hunt. But the early breakthrough shifted the momentum, putting pressure on the middle order right from the get-go.
A History of Heartbreak for Hendricks
This wasn’t a one-off fluke. Reeza Hendricks has now fallen to Varun Chakravarthy in every one of their three T20I meetings—a stat that’s as brutal as it sounds. Picture this: an average of just 1.66 against the Indian, with only 5 runs from 7 balls faced. That’s a strike rate hovering around 71, including five dots and a lone boundary. It’s like Hendricks’ bat turns to stone whenever Chakravarthy runs in.
For context, Chakravarthy’s overall T20I record stands at an impressive economy of 7.28 across 23 matches, with 28 wickets to his name. But against South Africans? He’s got that extra edge—five dismissals in limited overs, including this gem. It’s no wonder teams like Chennai Super Kings snapped him up in the IPL; the guy’s got middle-overs magic in spades.
Broader Series Vibes and What’s Next
This T20I rubber comes hot on the heels of India’s clean sweep in the Tests (2-0) and a gritty 2-1 ODI series win, where Virat Kohli feasted with two tons and a fifty. South Africa, though, showed fight in the longer formats—their first Test series triumph over India in 25 years was a statement. Now, in the shortest format, it’s all about explosive intent, and moments like Chakravarthy’s dismissal highlight why India enters as favorites.
With three more games to play, expect more tactical tweaks. Will Aiden Markram unleash his spinners earlier? Can Suryakumar’s young guns, like Yashasvi Jaiswal, keep the fire burning? One thing’s clear: in T20s, no lead is safe, and no batter’s safe from a spell like Varun’s.
If you’re hooked on these edge-of-your-seat battles—and who wouldn’t be?—stick around for more updates. Follow us on Facebook and WhatsApp for instant alerts on every six, wicket, and what-if moment from the cricketing world. Let’s keep the conversation going—what’s your take on Chakravarthy’s bag of tricks?
