Varun Chakravarthy ends 2025 rewriting T20I records with golden run vs South Africa

Story by PTI | Posted by Vidushi Gaur | Date 20-12-2025

Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy

Ahmedabad

Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy capped a remarkable year in T20I cricket by emerging as the leading wicket-taker among Test-playing nations in 2025, while also finishing as India’s second-highest wicket-taker in a single calendar year.

The 34-year-old mystery spinner delivered a masterclass in the fifth and final T20I against South Africa in Ahmedabad, taking four wickets for 53 runs in his four-over spell. His performance helped him finish the series as the top bowler with 10 wickets at an average of 11.20 and an economy rate of 7.46.

Across the year, Varun played 20 matches in 18 innings, claiming 36 wickets at an average of 13.19 and an economy rate of 7.08, including a five-wicket haul and a four-wicket performance. He shares the distinction of most T20I wickets in 2025 with Pakistan’s Mohammed Nawaz. He trails just behind Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who took 37 T20I wickets in 2022, making Varun the second-highest wicket-taker for India in a year.

Varun also excelled against South Africa throughout the series, collecting 22 wickets in eight matches at an average of 11.36 and an economy of 8.06, including a five-wicket and four-wicket haul.

In the final game, South Africa batted first after losing the toss. Indian bowlers faced an early challenge as openers Quinton de Kock (65 off 35 balls) and Reeza Hendricks (13 off 12) built a strong opening partnership. Varun broke the stand by dismissing Hendricks, and after de Kock’s dismissal, the Proteas struggled to recover, eventually being restricted to 201/8 in 20 overs.

Earlier, India posted 231/5, with significant contributions from Samson (37), Abhishek (34), and Tilak (73), supported by Hardik Pandya in a 105-run fourth-wicket partnership. Corbin Bosch (2/44) was the standout bowler for South Africa.

Jasprit Bumrah added 2/17, while Arshdeep Singh claimed a wicket. Hardik Pandya was named Player of the Match, and Varun Chakravarthy earned Player of the Series for his exceptional bowling exploits.