Varun Chakaravarthy produced another masterful performance as he turned India into a commanding position in the third T20I against South Africa in the chilly conditions of Dharamsala. The enigmatic spinner tore through the Proteas batting order with a fine spell, showing his versatility and accuracy while achieving a major personal milestone.
IND vs SA, 3rd T20I: Live updates | Scorecard
Chakaravarthy became the second-fastest Indian bowler to take 50 wickets in men’s T20 internationals, underscoring his growing importance in India’s white-ball plans.
The turning point of the innings came at 13.3 when Varun dismissed the dangerous Ferreira just as South Africa were about to launch a counter-attack. Bowled an enticing full game and baited Ferreira into a sweep. The batsman took a full hit but the ball spun around his bat and hit leg stump, ending a menacing cameo of 20 off 15 balls. It was a classic Varun rejection, built on reading the batter’s intent and executing the plan perfectly.
Chakaravarthy followed it up with another telling stroke in 15.1, this time cheating Marc Jansen. The South African all-rounder shaped to defend what he assumed would be spin away, but the ball lashed back to sneak through the wicket and rip off the stumps. The wicket left South Africa reeling at 77 for 7, effectively shutting the door on any hopes of a late recovery.
In addition to its immediate impact on the match, the spell carried significant statistical weight. Varun reached the milestone of 50 T20I wickets in just 32 matches, placing him behind only Kuldeep Yadav among Indian bowlers to achieve the milestone. His record against South Africa also continued to stand out and his knack for attacking regularly against their batting line-up was once again on display.
Chakaravarthy showed why it is so difficult to build a bowler in the shortest format. His subtle changes in pace, trajectory and spin kept the batsmen guessing, while his calm, understated presence ensured India were in control during the middle overs.
On a night when Dharamsala’s chill tested both teams, Varun’s magic stood out as the deciding factor.
As India look ahead to bigger challenges in T20 cricket, performances like this only strengthen Chakaravarthy’s case as a reliable match-winner. His ability to disrupt partnerships, control scores and make breakthroughs under pressure makes him a key asset, and his latest milestone is a reward for consistency at the highest level.
Fewest balls to 50 wickets T20I among spinners from full teams
- 600 – Ajantha Mendis
- 638 – Kuldeep Yadav
- 660 – Wanindu Hasaranga
- 672 – Varun Chakravarthy
- 681 – Imran Tahir
- 685 – Rashid Khan
Fastest Indians to 50 wickets in Men’s T20Is
- Kuldeep Yadav – 30 matches
- Varun Chakaravarthy – 32 matches
- Arshdeep Singh – 33 matches
- Ravi Bishnoi – 33 matches
- Yuzvendra Chahal – 34 matches
- Jasprit Bumrah – 41 matches
- Ravichandran Ashwin – 42 matches
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 50 matches
Most wickets by a bowler against South Africa in T20Is
- Arshdeep Singh – 21 wickets in 13 matches
- Varun Chakaravarthy – 19 wickets in 7 matches
- Chris Jordan – 17 goals in 17 games
- Shaheen Afridi – 17 wickets in 14 matches
- Dwayne Bravo – 17 goals in 16 games
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
December 14, 2025
