Varun Chakaravarthy recalls ‘dark time’ after India's 10-wicket defeat to Pakistan

Indian spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has opened up about the tough period he faced after India’s 10-wicket defeat to Pakistan in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, revealing that he received death threats and had to go into hiding at times.  

Speaking to an Indian news outlet, Chakaravarthy recalled how people tracked him down, followed him, and even threatened him not to return to India.  

“After the 2021 World Cup, I received threat calls. People said, ‘Don’t come to India. If you try, you won’t be able to.’ People approached my house and tracked me down, and I sometimes had to hide. When I was returning from the airport, some people followed me on their bikes,” he said.  

The match was a historic moment for Pakistan, as they defeated India in a World Cup match for the first time. Pakistan dominated the game, with Shaheen Shah Afridi’s brilliant bowling and unbeaten half-centuries from Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan leading them to victory.  

Chakaravarthy had a difficult outing in the match, failing to take a wicket and conceding 33 runs in his four overs. Following India’s early exit from the tournament, he was dropped from the team and did not return for three years.  

During this time, the 33-year-old struggled with disappointment and regret over his performance.  

“It was a dark time for me. I was in depression because I thought I was not able to do justice after I was picked for the T20 World Cup with a lot of hype. I regretted not taking even one wicket. After that, for three years, I was not selected. So, I think the comeback to the team was tougher than the path to my debut,” he shared.  

Chakaravarthy finally made his return to the Indian team in October last year and worked hard to secure his place. His performances earned him a spot in India’s squad for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, where he played a key role in India’s title-winning campaign. He took nine wickets in three innings at an impressive average of 15.11.  

Despite the challenges he faced, Chakaravarthy has bounced back strongly and is now an important part of India’s white-ball setup.