Almost the entire Indian team stayed away from social media during the Asia Cup and had no clue what was going on outside their bubble as controversy raged throughout the event, spinner Varun Chakaravarthy said on Tuesday.
The continental tournament played last month was marred by acrimony with the Indian players refusing to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts in light of the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor. The neighbours faced off on three successive Sundays and some of the Pakistani players also made provocative gestures referring to the skirmish between the two countries in May.
It all came to a head after the final when the Indian team refused to accept the trophy of Asian Cricket Council head Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman and his country’s interior minister, as he too had made some controversial comments about the military conflict. Naqvi, rather than allowing someone else to hand over the trophy, ensured that the champion team left without the silverware.
But if Varun is to be believed, the outside noise didn’t affect the Indian team.
“Almost all the players switched off their social media accounts, unless they had to post something immediately after a match. Because we were in another country, I don’t know how it was like in India at that time, but in the UAE it was just all quiet,” Varun said on the sidelines of the CEAT awards.
That India came away with the trophy was, to a great extent, due to the prowess of their spinners, and Varun was very much part of the turnaround in the final as Pakistan collapsed from 113 for 2 at one stage to be bowled out for 146. He finished the tournament with seven wickets with an economy of 6.50. His partnership with the left-arm wrist-spinner rarely failed to make an impact.
“We kind of compliment each other because I bowl at around 95 km per hour and he bowls at around 85 km per hour. He has more variation and turn, I have more speed and bounce, so it’s been working well for us,” the 34-year-old explained.
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Varun also praised head coach Gautam Gambhir, saying he brings a ‘spartan mentality’ to the team.
“You just have to bring your best and give everything on the ground and whatever happens, happens. When he (Gambhir) is around, there is no mediocrity,” the spinner added.
The team management has made it clear that Varun has to go for wickets. His role is to keep attacking the stumps, take on the tough job of bowling an over inside the Powerplay, two in the middle phase and one at the death.
“They have backed me throughout. For that, I have to give them credit. I was out of the team for more than three years, but performed well in the IPL. For them to recognise that and bring me back in the team was great,” he added.
