Former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has expressed his disagreement with the ICC’s choice of ‘Player of the Tournament’ in the recently concluded Champions Trophy. While New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra was officially given the award, Ashwin believes that mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy was the true ‘X-Factor’ in India’s title-winning campaign.
Despite not being part of India’s initial squad, Chakravarthy was drafted in after his impressive performances in the white-ball series against England. The decision to include him paid off, as he delivered match-winning spells and played a crucial role in India’s success.
“Whatever said and done, the Player of the Tournament, in my view, was Varun Chakravarthy. He didn’t play the entire tournament, but he made a huge difference. If Varun wasn’t there, I think this game would have been very different. He brought that X-factor and the novelty factor. If I were the judge, I would have given it to Varun,” Ashwin said on his Hindi YouTube channel ‘Ash Ki Baat’.
Ashwin particularly highlighted Chakravarthy’s dismissal of Glenn Phillips as a defining moment in the tournament. “Just look at how he dismissed Glenn Phillips. He wasn’t covering the stumps, so Varun went wide of the crease and bowled that googly. In my view, Varun has to be the Player of the Series. The award should be given to someone who made the biggest difference,” he added.
Bowlers Led India To Victory
Ashwin credited India’s bowlers for their remarkable performance in the final against New Zealand, where they restricted the opposition to 251/7. He also praised Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir for their tactical decisions throughout the tournament.
“I am so happy for Rohit and Gautam Gambhir. Just spare a thought for GG. What must he be going through? Losing a few Test series against New Zealand, but he made a remarkable decision. There was no Jasprit Bumrah, yet this Indian team won the Champions Trophy without him. What does it tell you? I think the world will take some time to catch up with Indian cricket,” Ashwin remarked.
Chakravarthy’s Reaction To His Stellar Performance
Chakravarthy, who ended the tournament as the second-highest wicket-taker, admitted he never expected such a dream run in the Champions Trophy.
“I didn’t expect it to turn out like this; it’s a dream come true. The spin was less in the first innings, and I had to be disciplined, just stick to the basics,” he said after the final.
While Rachin Ravindra was honored with the ‘Player of the Tournament’ award, Ashwin’s endorsement of Chakravarthy has sparked debate among fans and cricket pundits alike.
