During the IPL 2021 season, Varun Chakravarthy bamboozled quite a few quality batters with his mystery spin. Playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), he finished that season with 18 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 6.58.
Thanks to his stunning exploits, KKR made it to the IPL 2021 final, where they lost to eventual champions Chennai Super Kings.
Subsequently, Chakravarthy was rewarded with a place in the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup 2021. However, he failed to live up to the expectations in the global tournament and hasn't played for the Indian team since.
His performance in the IPL also dipped the following season but the Tamil Nadu spinner alleged foul play as the reason behind his continual snub from the Indian team.
In an interview with CricXtasy, Chakravarthy claimed that rumours around his fitness were spread to keep him out of the national side.
"It was very tough because right after I finished the World Cup, it was not a big injury; it was a very small injury. It just took me two or three weeks to be back on track, but after that, I got sidelined, and people kept giving the same excuse that I am injured, but on the other hand, I was not injured all that while. I don't know, [if] it was just a rumour, or someone just wanting to spread this news about me so that they can sideline me. But that's how life is; it is unfair. It was very hard on me," Chakravarthy stated.
"IPL 2022 was not a great season because what happened in 2021 after the World Cup got within me, and I was very desperate to be back in the Indian side. So I wanted to prove to everyone. I was being very desperate. I started changing many things in my bowling, which finally affected my mental peace, and I was not able to do my normal bowling also. So that IPL was bad for me," he added.
Varun Chakravarthy admitted that he was desperate to wear the Indian jersey again earlier but no longer has expectations.
"I took time off, and I understood what was happening to me. Now, it's all cool; I am not desperate anymore. I know how things work. Even the best of the best - there is news that they are going to sideline that person, so who am I? I don't have any expectations. Let's see whatever comes my way - I will do my best.
"The best thing is to accept the reality. There's no one out there in the competitive world who is going to really help you or think good for you. Everyone has their own competition; everyone has their own struggles. I can't go run behind people and cry to them, 'Why are you not picking me? I am feeling bad; I am feeling depressed. I won't come to this match.' It's not professional. The best thing I can do is just turn up for the matches, do my best, and rest, leave it to the almighty, and whatever happens, happens. The rumours - it did create a very big dent in my career, but I have just accepted it," he remarked.
