South Africa has successfully decoded Varun Chakravarthy in the middle overs and shifted the momentum in a decisive manner. Miller, Brewis, and Stubbs premeditated their approach in how they negated Varun.
In Sunday’s game, South Africa comprehensively dismantled India in thier home turf. We can say that it was an off day for India, and they will come back strong in the next few games. However, one thing that South Africa did right was the intent against Varun Chakravarthy.
We can say that it was a batting collapse for India, but the game was shifted when South Africa figured out a way to play against Varun. In the last three games, no team was able to figure out Varun. He had amazing figures against all teams. He wasn’t just taking wickets, but creating doubt in batsmen’s minds. Most of the batsmen were unsure of how to play him safely. This inability of batsmen to figure out his tactics made him the number one T20 bowler in the world. However, South Africa came up with a strategy of premeditation.
Bumrah and Arshdeep provided the kind of platform India was hoping against a team like South Africa. In the powerplay, these two nudged South Africa on the back foot. This was typically a phase when Varun enters the mix and shackles batters from taking any lead.
However, South African batters, especially Miller and Brewis, didn’t stand still. Especially, Brewis exposed his wickets and kept moving in the crease to unsettle Varun. He moved and made space to hit Varun over long on or backward point for boundaries. Miller also did the same, and he was quick to bring out a slog sweep against Varun.
Varun went for 47 in four overs and took 1 wicket with an economy of 11.75. This made him go on the defensive instead of being an attacking bowler.
I am not taking credit away from Miller, Brewis, and Stubbs. They had built fantastic partnerships by taking their team forward one over at a time. South African batters absorbed the pressure from Bumrah and Arshdeep and then flipped the script.
South Africa came prepared for Varun, and they executed their plans well to punish him.
