India’s Varun Chakravarthy is eagerly anticipating playing in front of his family in the second T20I against England at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. After being named Player of the Match for his brilliant performance in the series opener in Kolkata, Chakravarthy is set for another exciting outing.

In the first T20I, he was the standout bowler, taking 3 wickets for 23 runs in his four overs. His key dismissals of Jos Buttler, Harry Brook, and Liam Livingstone helped reduce England to just 132 runs in 20 overs. India comfortably chased down the target in just 12.5 overs, with Chakravarthy’s spell playing a pivotal role in the victory.

Ahead of the second match, the 29-year-old expressed his excitement about playing his first game for India in Chennai, a city he holds close to his heart, with his family in the stands.

“We’re heading to Chennai, and this will be my first match for India there.” Chakravarthy expressed his excitement, sharing that having his parents and family coming to watch makes the moment truly special.

Chakravarthy has been in exceptional form since his return to the national team in October 2024. In just eight matches, he has claimed 20 wickets at an impressive average of 11.7 and an economy rate of 7.31. Notably, he also registered his first five-wicket haul for India during the second T20I against South Africa in November 2024, with outstanding figures of 5/17.

Chakravarthy made his international debut in July 2021 against Sri Lanka and was part of India’s squad for the T20 World Cup that same year. However, after a disappointing performance in the tournament, where he failed to take a wicket in three matches, he was dropped from the squad.

He made a strong comeback, earning a spot back in the team thanks to his stellar performances in the IPL. In the 2023 and 2024 seasons for Kolkata Knight Riders, he claimed 20 and 21 wickets, respectively, and continued to impress in domestic cricket. Since his return, Chakravarthy has been a key figure in India’s middle-overs attack, consistently picking up crucial wickets to derail opposition innings. With England set to take on India in the second T20I on Saturday, January 25, Chakravarthy will be eager to continue his match-winning ways.