“My heartbeat was touching 200 in the last over:” Varun Chakravarty after defending 9 runs against the SRH

In a thrilling encounter between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the latter emerged victorious by 10 runs in their IPL match on Wednesday. SRH needed 38 runs from the last 30 balls, with 5 wickets in hand, but somehow managed to lose the game. It was sweet revenge for KKR, who were thrashed in the run-fest encounter at the Eden Gardens earlier this season.

After losing their top 4 batsmen inside the first 7 overs, SRH skipper Markram and in-form Klaasen started the repair job, stitching a crucial 70-run partnership for the fifth wicket. The duo put their side on course for a 4th win of the season. However, KKR had other plans.

After conceding 12 runs off his first over, Varun Chakravarthy was brought back into the attack after Klaasen’s dismissal. The move paid off as Chakravarthy picked up the crucial wicket of Samad and conceded just 8 runs in his 18th over, which included 8 dots. His spell proved to be the turning point of the match.

In the end, SRH fell short of the target by 10 runs, despite a valiant effort from Markram and Klaasen. KKR’s victory keeps them in the hunt for a playoff spot. Varun Chakravarthy was rightly named as the player of the match. 

Chakravarthy at the post match presentation

During the post-match intereview, Varun Chakravarthy expressed his thoughts on a nail-biting match where his team was defending a target of 9 in the final over. 

Chakrarvarthy was handed the responsibility of bowling the last over of the match. He mentioned that his heart was racing as the opposition needed to hit a boundary to win.

He explained that he wanted the batsman to hit towards the longer part of the ground. The cricketer also stated that the ball was slippery and his only hope was the longer side. He admitted that he had given away 12 runs in his first over, with Markram hitting him for two boundaries. The player revealed that he had been working on his revolutions as he was bowling around 85kmph last year and needed to improve.

“My heartbeat was touching 200 in the last over, but I wanted them to make hit to the longer part of the ground. The ball was slipping a lot and my best bet was longer side and that was my only hope. My first over I went for 12 runs, Aiden Markram hit me for 2 fours and that’s how the game goes. Last year I was bowling around 85kmph, I was trying out many things and I realized that I needed to work on my revolutions and I did work on it,” Chakravarthy in the post match presentation. 

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