Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar lavished praise on mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, calling him a “magician” after India’s emphatic 48-run victory over New Zealand in the first T20I of the five-match series at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium on Wednesday. While Abhishek Sharma stole headlines with the bat, Gavaskar highlighted Chakravarthy’s composure and intent on a batting-friendly surface.

Chakravarthy returned figures of 2 for 37 from his four overs, dismissing Tim Robinson and Mark Chapman. Despite being hit for a few boundaries, the right-arm leg-break bowler maintained control and confidence, qualities that impressed Gavaskar. He noted that Chakravarthy’s body language remained positive throughout his spell, even when the New Zealand batters attacked aggressively.

Speaking on the broadcast, Gavaskar said Chakravarthy looked “a little rusty” but added that such phases were understandable. He stressed that the spinner’s upright posture and calm walk back to his mark reflected strong self-belief. According to Gavaskar, this mental strength is crucial for success in high-scoring formats like T20 cricket, where bowlers are often under pressure.

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India’s dominance in the match was set up by a blistering batting display led by Abhishek Sharma, who smashed 84 off just 35 balls, including five fours and eight sixes. His explosive innings powered India to a formidable 238 for seven after being asked to bat first. Rinku Singh added an unbeaten 44 off 20 balls, while Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya made useful contributions.

In response, New Zealand were restricted to 190 for seven, falling well short of the target. Chakravarthy and Shivam Dube picked up two wickets each to keep the visitors in check. Jacob Duffy was the standout bowler for New Zealand, finishing with figures of 2 for 27.

The comprehensive win gave India an early lead in the series and underlined the team’s depth, with both batters and bowlers making decisive contributions on a high-scoring pitch.

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