WATCH: Varun Chakravarthy surprises England by dismissing Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone in the same match | IND vs ENG 2025, 1st T20I



Varun Chakraborty presented a spin bowling masterclass during the first T20I of the five-match series between India and England in Calcutta. His hard-hitting double wicket disrupted England’s batting line-up, amplifying India’s control of the match. Complementary Arshdeep SinghThanks to Varun’s early breakthrough, Varun’s pinpoint accuracy solidified India’s dominance in the game.

Varun Chakravarthy’s double strike shakes England

In a game-changing seventh over, Varun showcased his exceptional skills to deliver a double strike that stunned England. The first to fall was Harry Brookwho showed promise with an aggressive 17 off 14 balls, including two fours and a six. Varun deceived Brook with a fake that drifted and turned sharply, weaving through the pad, after taking a slight edge of the bat, to hit the stumps. Brook, bowling for a straighter delivery, was undone by the tight turn and an unfortunate edge, ending what looked like a potential match-defining innings.

Two balls later, Varun dropped another gem to dismiss Liam living stone for a duck. The delivery, angled to the right, drifted and skidded with rapidity. Livingstone, expecting a turn that never came, played down the poor line, leaving his stumps shaken. Varun’s precision and cunning bowling dismantled England’s middle order, leaving them reeling at 65/4. These two dismissals highlighted Varun’s ability to outplay batters under pressure, turning the tide firmly in India’s favor.

Here is the video:

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England’s first battles in Calcutta against India

The first ten overs of England’s innings saw a mix of aggressive batting and tight bowling from India. England lost Phil Salt for a duck in the opener against Arshdeep, who continued his genius by removing Ben Duckett shortly after, leaving the visitors reeling at 17/2 in the third over. If butler then took matters into his own hands, demonstrating his aggressive intent with a wave of boundaries. His unbeaten 48 off 30 deliveries, coupled with six fours and a six, stabilized the innings amid early setbacks.

Arshdeep set the tone with his impeccable line and length, finishing his three overs with impressive figures of 2/10 with an economy of just 3.33. Varun complemented him perfectly, scoring 2/16 in his three overs, dismantling England’s middle order. Ravi Bishnoi kept the pressure intact, conceding only six points in their opener. Hardik Pandya And Axar Patel were expensive but played a supporting role as England struggled to accelerate after the power play. Midway, England had reached 77/4with Buttler anchoring the innings. The Indian bowlers will look to capitalize on their momentum in the remaining overs to restrict the visitors to a modest total.

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