Chakravarthy Ends 2025 With 36 T20I Wickets, Player of The Series Against South Africa

Indian mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy capped a remarkable 2025 by finishing as the joint-leading wicket-taker among bowlers from Test-playing nations in T20 Internationals, claiming 36 wickets across the calendar year. The 34-year-old concluded his golden run in the fifth and final T20I against South Africa on Friday, taking 4/53 to help India secure a 30-run victory and a 3-1 series win. His performance earned him the Player of the Series award with 10 wickets at an average of 11.20 and an economy rate of 7.46.

Varun Chakravarthy ended 2025 tied with Pakistan's Mohammad Nawaz on 36 wickets, achieved in 20 matches and 18 innings at an impressive average of 13.19 and economy of 7.08. This tally places him second on India's all-time list for most T20I wickets in a calendar year, just one behind Bhuvneshwar Kumar's 37 in 2022. His standout year included a five-wicket haul and multiple four-fers, showcasing his ability to bamboozle batters with variations.

Against South Africa, Varun Chakravarthy maintained his dominance, taking 22 wickets in eight matches at an average of 11.36. In the series decider, his spell proved pivotal as South Africa collapsed from a promising position, losing regular wickets after reaching 120/1. Jasprit Bumrah supported with 2/17, while the Proteas were restricted to 201/8 chasing India's 231/5.

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India's imposing total was built on a 105-run fourth-wicket partnership between Tilak Varma, who scored an unbeaten 73 off 42 balls, and Hardik Pandya, whose explosive 63 off 25 earned him Player of the Match. Earlier, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma provided a brisk 63-run opening stand. Corbin Bosch was South Africa's best bowler with 2/44.

Varun Chakravarthy's resurgence in 2025 has solidified his position in India's T20I setup ahead of the 2026 World Cup. From a career that once seemed stalled due to injuries, his consistent performances have made him a key weapon in limited-overs cricket. The series victory marked another successful home outing for India under captain Suryakumar Yadav.

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