Namibia Skipper Erasmus Hails Varun Chakravarthy as Game-Breaker With Unfamiliar Spin

Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus admitted his side was outclassed by the mystery spin of India’s Varun Chakravarthy, describing the bowler’s skillset as something rarely encountered in associate cricket. His candid assessment came after Namibia suffered a heavy 93-run defeat while chasing a steep target of 210.

Erasmus said the turning point arrived when Chakravarthy was introduced in the seventh over and struck with a googly on his very first delivery. The Indian spinner went on to claim three wickets in just 12 balls, derailing Namibia’s chase. “It was really just a new skill that we've never seen,” Erasmus said, noting that such mystery spin options are uncommon among associate teams.

The Namibia skipper acknowledged that while batters are generally accustomed to facing conventional leg-spin and the occasional googly, bowlers of Chakravarthy’s variety remain rare. He grouped the Indian spinner alongside elite mystery bowlers, saying only a few cricketing nations regularly produce players of that type.

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Despite the margin of defeat, Erasmus felt the result did not fully reflect Namibia’s overall performance. He pointed out that his team bowled well at the death to restrict India to 209 and made a positive start during the powerplay of the chase before losing momentum in a cluster of wickets.

Erasmus also highlighted the challenge of performing in high-pressure environments, noting that Namibia’s players are still adapting to playing in packed stadiums against top-tier opposition. He stressed that developing both courage and composure under pressure is essential if the team hopes to compete consistently at the highest level.

Looking ahead, the Namibia captain said greater exposure to elite competition will be key to bridging the gap. He emphasised that players must learn to replicate their skills under intense crowd pressure and against high-quality bowling if they are to progress beyond the associate tier.

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