Varun Chakravarthy rues 2nd T20I loss: Wanted to win match on son’s birthday

India spinner Varun Chakravarthy rued the fact the team was not able to win the 2nd T20I match against South Africa. Speaking after the match, Varun said that he would have wanted India to win the match, given this day was special to him.
Varun revealed that, 10 November was his son’s birthday, and it would have been really special if India would have clinched the thriller against South Africa in Gqeberha. Varun himself left no stone unturned to force a win. The spinner registered his maiden 5-wicket-haul to dismantle the South African side.
“It’s my son’s birthday today, so he’s turning 2 and yeah, it would have been nice if we had won the match,” Varun Chakravarthy said on Jio Cinema after the match.
SA vs IND, 2nd T20I: Highlights | Full Scorecard
Defending a paltry total of 124 runs, Varun weaved his magic in the middle-overs of the second innings. Despite conditions slightly conducive to fast bowling, Varun found impeccable lines and lengths and outfoxed the likes of Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller to leave South Africa reeling.
After picking up the wickets of Aiden Markram and Reeza Hendricks in the first half of the South African innings, Varun had already announced himself into the match. South Africa demoted their top batters – Klaasen and Miller to protect the batters from the rampaging Kolkata Knight Riders’ spinner.
However, Varun was not the one to let go, as he dismissed Klaasen and Miller in the final over of his innings to leave South Africa reeling. Varun was incredibly accurate and bowled out Markram, Hendricks, Jansen and Miller. Only Heinrich Klaasen played a loose shot off Varun and deposited a full-length delivery into the hands of Rinku Singh at long-off.
However, South Africa stayed alive in the game courtesy of Tristan Stubbs and Gerland Coetzee, who dragged the game back into the hosts’ favour. The duo remained unbeaten to guide SA to a three-wicket win on Sunday.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav lauded Varun for his heroics and credited the Indian bowlers for putting in a stunning performance.
“In a T20 game someone getting a 5-fer defending 125 and in this situation, it’s incredible. He worked really hard on his game and he has been waiting for this stage, and everyone enjoyed it. Brilliant performance from him. Two games to go, a lot of entertainment left and it will be fun at Jo’burg,” Suryakumar Yadav said.