"Varun Chakaravarthy trapped the big fish" - Aakash Chopra on Chakaravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi playing together in IND vs SA 2024 1st T20I
Aakash Chopra has noted that the first T20I between India and Bangladesh was a virtual straight shoot-out between Ravi Bishnoi and Varun Chakaravarthy. While observing that both bowled well, he pointed out that the latter dismissed the most formidable South African batters.
India set South Africa a 203-run target after being asked to bat first in Durban on Friday, November 8. Chakaravarthy (3-25) and Bishnoi (3-28) then shared six wickets between them as the Men in Blue bowled the Proteas out for 141 to register an emphatic 61-run win.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra', the reputed commentator recalled India playing Chakaravarthy ahead of Bishnoi in the first two T20Is against Bangladesh. While observing that both were part of the XI in the series opener against South Africa and did well, he pointed out that Chakaravarthy accounted for the 'big fish'.
"There was a discussion about why India were playing three spinners. However, there was another thing, you had made Ravi Bishnoi sit out and played Varun Chakaravarthy, and that was a big call. Here you said you would play both of them together. When two spinners play together, it becomes like a competition at the same point in time," he said (8:50).
"The comparison becomes quick and immediate. Actually, both bowled well. Ravi Bishnoi bowls slightly fast in the air, has a slightly different style of bowling, but he has been effective. He has picked up a lot of wickets. Varun Chakaravarthy bowls differently and traps the batters. He dismissed Klaasen, Miller and Ryan Rickelton. He trapped the big fish," Chopra added.
Chakaravarthy had Ryan Rickelton (21 off 11) caught by Tilak Varma at wide long-on in his first over. He later dismissed Heinrich Klaasen (25 off 22) and David Miller (18 off 22) to complete his three-wicket haul.
"There was pressure on Ravi Bishnoi but he also shone under that pressure" - Aakash Chopra
![Ravi Bishnoi dismissed Patrick Kruger, Marco Jansen, and Andile Simelane. [P/C: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/11/5d55b-17311316240560-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that Ravi Bishnoi also gave a good account of himself under pressure.
"There was pressure on Ravi Bishnoi but he also shone under that pressure. It was important to do well when you get the chance because there will be a question going forward about whether you will play with three spinners in this entire series," he said.
The former India opener pointed out that both spinners need to perform consistently as one might have to make way if the pitches in the upcoming games are not as conducive for spin.
"It's a tough one as we don't know how the pitches will be. So when you see from that viewpoint, it's important to do well whenever you get a chance because ultimately you played three spinners but got only two to bowl. You got Axar (Patel) to bowl just one over but he will play 100 percent because otherwise you won't see the depth in the batting," Chopra observed.
Chopra opined that Axar Patel is unlikely to be left out because he lends the batting depth at No. 7. He pointed out that Sanju Samson's knock (107 off 50) ensured the lack of batting depth didn't hurt India in Friday's game.