This star Indian cricketer, a hero of the ICC Champions Trophy, has also showcased his talent in a Tamil movie. Guess who he is!
New Delhi: Before rising to fame in Indian cricket, Varun Chakravarthy had a brief experience in the film industry. In 2014, he made a small appearance in the Tamil film ‘Jeeva,’ a sports drama that inadvertently reflected his own life story. The movie showcased a cricketer’s challenges, paralleling Varun’s real-life efforts to establish himself in professional cricket. In addition to his film role, he also featured in the well-known cooking reality show “Cooku with Comali.”
Varun Chakravarthy discovered his true passion in cricket, where he gained recognition as India’s mystery spinner, confounding batsmen with his unconventional bowling styles. He played a significant role in India’s victory at the ICC Champions Trophy, finishing as the tournament’s second leading wicket-taker. In the final match against New Zealand, he made a significant impact by taking two important wickets, putting the New Zealand team at a disadvantage.
Varun Chakravarthy, aged 33, started his T20I career in July 2021 and became the second-oldest player to make his ODI debut, following Farokh Engineer, in February 2025. He represents Tamil Nadu in domestic cricket and serves as a prominent spinner for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Career As Architect
Mystery spinners have consistently captured the interest of cricket enthusiasts, and Varun Chakravarthy is a notable example. His path to becoming a cricket star was unconventional; he first aimed for a career in architecture before making a bold decision to transition to professional cricket at the age of 25. Varun holds a Bachelor’s degree in architecture from SRM University and spent several years working as a freelance architect. However, his passion for cricket remained strong, and he initially entered the sport not as a bowler, but as a wicketkeeper-batsman.
In a significant career change, he left his position as an architect to re-enter the sport, signing with CromBest Cricket Club as a seam-bowling all-rounder. After suffering a knee injury, he reassessed his strategy and transformed his playing style to become a spinner, a decision that proved to be very successful.
Varun Chakravarthy’s Breakthrough
Varun achieved significant success during the 2017-18 season, where he claimed 31 wickets in seven matches for Jubilee Cricket Club in a one-day tournament. He honed his unique spin bowling, creating a range of variations that proved challenging for batsmen. His impressive displays in Tamil Nadu’s domestic competitions, especially during the 2018 Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), attracted the interest of IPL scouts. Contributing significantly to Madurai’s championship victory, he quickly transitioned to bowling in the nets for KKR.
Varun’s Big Break
His significant opportunity in the IPL occurred in 2019 when Kings XI Punjab (now known as Punjab Kings) invested Rs 8.4 crore to sign him. However, injuries and a lack of consistency restricted his game time. In 2020, he was acquired by Kolkata Knight Riders, where he justified their confidence by having an impressive season, taking 17 wickets, which included a notable five-wicket haul against Delhi Capitals. His skill in outsmarting batsmen led to a national selection for India’s tour of Australia, but a fitness problem postponed his debut on the international stage.
More glory for Varun
Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who significantly influenced the Champions Trophy, has been named among six Indian players in the 12-member ‘Team of the Tournament’ for the event. India secured their third title on Sunday by defeating New Zealand by four wickets in the final match. The team had previously won the tournament in 2002 (as joint winners) and 2013, and were runners-up in 2000 and 2017. In addition to Varun, the tournament XI included Shreyas Iyer, wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, and fast bowler Mohammed Shami, while all-rounder Axar Patel was designated as the 12th man.
