India and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) leg-spinner Varun Chakaravarthy showed nerves of steel as he turned unexpected finisher for Dindigul Dragons in a thrilling last-ball win over Salem Spartans in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday evening.
Chasing 189, the Dragons found themselves needing eight runs off the final two balls. Salem’s M Poiyamozhi bowled a no-ball under pressure, handing Chakaravarthy a lifeline and a free hit. Seizing the moment, the spinner walked across his stumps and launched a massive six over long-on.
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With just one required off the final ball, the fielders closed in, but Varun Chakaravarthy smartly lofted the ball over mid-off for a four, sealing a sensational two-wicket win for Dindigul. While Chakaravarthy is known for his mystery spin, this match-winning cameo of 13* off 5 balls showcased his evolution as a cricketer.
Varun Chakravarthy delivered a humdinger finish for the Dindigul Dragons! @TNCACricket @DindigulDragons @chakaravarthy29 #TNPL #NammaOoruNammaGethu #TNPL2025 pic.twitter.com/pPXQlWzuJl
— TNPL (@TNPremierLeague) June 22, 2025
After being dropped from the Indian T20 side post the 2021 World Cup, his coaches and KKR’s Abhishek Nayar had confirmed that he was asked to focus on batting and fielding to enhance his overall value to the team. The effort seems to be paying off.
Earlier in the match, the Spartans posted 188/7, with Nidhish Rajagopal scoring a fluent 74 off 47. In response, Dindigul’s spin duo of skipper Ravichandran Ashwin (3 wickets) and Chakaravarthy (1 wicket) played key roles in containing the Spartans’ scoring momentum.
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Ashwin also provided a fiery start with the bat, smashing 36 off just 14 balls as an opener. Though Dindigul lacked a set anchor, crucial cameos from the middle order kept them in the chase—until Chakaravarthy stepped up with a memorable finish that sealed the deal.
