'Some spread rumours to sideline me' - Varun Chakravarthy makes startling claim on India snub

After having a phenomenal season with Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2021, Varun Chakravarthy was called up by the Indian team management for the T20 World Cup in the same year. He was preferred over Yuzvendra Chahal, as his mystery bowling became incredibly tough for the batters to read in the cash-rich tournament. However, the Tamil Nadu spinner could not justify his spot in the playing XI, failing to clinch any wicket in the three matches he played.

Soon after that, the 32-year-old got dropped from the squad. After staying silent for almost three years, Chakravarthy has opened up on a conspiracy against him, claiming external sources played a role in keeping him on the sidelines. He clarified that it was a minor injury that he suffered but there are certain individuals who made a massive deal out of it.

“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,” Varun told CricXtasy.

IPL 2022 was not a great season because what happened in 2021: Chakravarthy

Chakravarthy added that IPL 2022 didn’t go according to the plans as he was trying to be too desperate in the middle. He mentioned that the incidents of 2021 affected him mentally, which caused a dip in his form as he was trying multiple things to get back into the national team. Notably, he picked up only six wickets in 11 matches in the tournament, which complicated the issue further.

“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."

“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.

“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 said.