“All players switched off social media…”: Varun Chakaravarthy reflects on India’s unbeaten Asia Cup 2025 campaign

The Men in Blue didn’t drop a single game during their triumphant campaign.

The recently held Asia Cup 2025 saw India facing Pakistan on the cricket field for the first time since the heinous Pahalgam terror attack in April this year, which led to India launching Operation Sindoor on terrorist camps across the border.

India outplayed Pakistan in all three meetings of the continental event, including the final. While the title clash went into the last over, the Men in Blue won the group-stage and Super 4 fixtures rather convincingly by seven wickets and six wickets respectively.

Moreover, the Suryakumar Yadav-led side didn’t drop a single game during their triumphant campaign.

Reflecting on the controversy-laden Asia Cup, India spinner Varun Chakaravarthy mentioned that the team remained focused on staying unbeaten and deliberately ignored distractions.

“We do plan before the match itself and before that (final) we had played the opponent (Pakistan) two times, so we had a fair idea of what their plans could be and what they will come up with, and we also had our own plans and we did well," Chakaravarthy was quoted as saying at the CEAT Cricket Rating Awards in Mumbai.

“I don’t know about others but our primary goal when we landed there was to win the cup only, not to look at other things. Our focus was always to win the cup and win against all the sides and go unbeaten in the tournament so that we can feel more stronger (going into) the (T20) World Cup."

“If you ask me, what I saw is almost all the players switched off their social media accounts (and) only when they had to post something after the match they just came (on it). But none of them actually, (also) because we were in another country, maybe I don’t know how it was there in India at that time, but in UAE it was just all quiet," he added.

Chakaravarthy also emphasized that bowling in tandem with Kuldeep Yadav has been a delightful experience, benefiting both spinners.

“We complement each other because I bowl at the speeds of (around) 95 km per hour and he bowls around 85 km per hour, so we kind of complement each other," he said.

“He has more revs and more turn, I have more speed and bounce, so till now it’s been working well for us. Hopefully, we can do the same thing what we have been doing in the (T20) World Cup also," Chakaravarthy remarked.

(With inputs from Agencies)