Before he became a key figure in Indian cricket, Varun Chakravarthy had an unexpected brush with the silver screen.
In 2014, he appeared in the Tamil sports drama Jeeva, portraying a cricketer battling against the odds – an ironic foreshadowing of his real-life struggles.
Around the same time, he was also seen in the cooking reality show Cooku with Comali, but his heart remained with cricket, reported the Times of India.
However, his path to professional cricket was anything but conventional. Varun initially pursued a career in architecture, earning a Bachelor’s degree from the SRM Institute of Science and Technology in Chennai and working as a freelance architect.
While he designed buildings by day, his passion for cricket never faded. Originally a wicketkeeper-batsman, he took a bold leap at the age of 25, quitting his job to pursue cricket full-time.
Varun joined CromBest Cricket Club as a seam-bowling all-rounder, but a knee injury forced him to change his game. Instead of giving up, he reinvented himself as a mystery spinner, a decision that would shape his future.
His breakthrough came during the 2017-18 season, when he claimed 31 wickets in seven games for Jubilee Cricket Club in a one-day tournament. He continued to fine-tune his bowling, developing a wide range of variations that baffled batsmen.
His performances in Tamil Nadu’s domestic circuit, especially in the 2018 Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), put him on the radar of Indian Premier League (IPL) scouts.
Playing a crucial role in Madurai’s title-winning campaign, Varun found himself bowling in the nets for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), and soon, he got his first IPL contract.
In 2019, Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) made a massive bid of Rs8.4 crore ($1.3 million) for Varun in the IPL auction. However, injuries and inconsistency limited his appearances.
A career-defining moment arrived in 2020 when KKR acquired him, and he responded with a stellar season, picking up 17 wickets, including a five-wicket haul against Delhi Capitals.
His unique ability to deceive batsmen earned him a national call-up for India’s tour of Australia, though fitness issues delayed his international debut.
Varun eventually made his T20I debut in July 2021 and, at 33 years old, became the second-oldest player after Farokh Engineer to make his one-day international (ODI) debut for India in February 2025.
His presence in Tamil Nadu’s domestic cricket and as KKR’s lead spinner in the IPL solidified his reputation as a key player.
His international career peaked at the recent ICC Champions Trophy, where he played a pivotal role in India’s title victory.
He emerged as one of the tournament’s most impactful bowlers, finishing as India’s second-highest wicket-taker. In six matches, he claimed nine wickets at an average of just 15.11, including a five-wicket haul.
His most crucial performance came in the final against New Zealand, where he dismantled the Kiwi batting lineup with two key wickets, helping India clinch their third Champions Trophy title.
India had previously won in 2002 (joint winners) and 2013, while finishing runners-up in 2000 and 2017.
Varun’s performances earned him a place in the 12-member “Team of the Tournament”, alongside teammates Shreyas Iyer, K.L. Rahul, Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami, and Axar Patel as the 12th man, reported India Today.
Varun is at the peak of his career, proving that late bloomers can thrive in cricket as well. With a Champions Trophy title under his belt, he is now looking forward to making a bigger impact in India’s limited-overs setup and continuing his stellar IPL performances.
His story is one of resilience, reinvention and relentless ambition – a true testament to the idea that it’s never too late to chase your dreams.
Despite initial struggles with injuries and selection setbacks, Varun never gave up. His determination, coupled with his mystery spin, has earned him a place among India’s top spinners.
