Imagine you are a mystery spinner in the world’s biggest T20 league—and you decide to throw away your stock ball. You would have to be brave to do this, or even foolish, no? But that was exactly the bold step Varun Chakaravarthy made in the lead-up to IPL 2022 while wearing the purple and gold of KKR. What followed next was a journey of failure, a deep and meaningful reflection, and ultimately a redemption. And now with Varun tasting the high of IPL 2024 and India winning the 2025 Champions Trophy, that decision seems to be the initial piece in what seems to be the grand scheme.
Letting Go of Comfort: The Stock Ball Sacrifice
Every bowler has a stock ball. To remove that weapon before the IPL 2022 season was not only a tactical move for Varun Chakaravarthy; it was a leap into the unknown.
Varun opened up to KKR CEO Venky Mysore, revealing he was about to overhaul his entire bowling approach. Not shockingly, Varun felt the 2022 season could go awry. And it did! Varun’s preferred ball was removed from the arsenal, and he appeared to be out of rhythm, out of pace, and out of confidence. With just six scalps in 11 outings and an average fatter than a county pie at 55.33, his season was more miss than hit.
Most players would never throw a major gamble- in fact, not right after being re-signed. Yet Varun was not playing the now; he was playing the long game. His statement to Mysore was not exactly innocuous excitement; it was sheer self-confidence and a crystal-clear view of where he had to be.
The World Cup Wake-Up Call
To conclude, if the IPL 2022 was the nadir, then the 2021 T20 World Cup was a serious wake-up call.
Varun was in high spirits as he approached his first match for India against Pakistan, especially since he had just played in the IPL final for KKR a couple of weeks earlier. But the black soil pitch offered no turn whatsoever and, as a result, his side-spin heavy deliveries were meaningless in terms of troubling any batters. He ended with an exceedingly forgettable none for 33 in 4 overs.
That match hurt, and Varun knew something had to give. His skills, while good on certain surfaces, were not universal. The realization hit hard: “I was not able to beat the edge.” For a player who made his career off mystery and deception, it was a tough pill to swallow.
From YouTube University to Match-Winning Spells
As Varun was off the Indian radar and nowhere near the T20 limelight, he completely entered sponge mode. Varun began to soak up hours and hours of Adam Zampa and Rashid Khan, two of the best white-ball spinners in cricket. He put over 1000 hours into YouTube, observing and learning their angles, speed variations, and seam positions.
This was not just passive surfing. This was research, self-coaching, and metamorphic. He reconstructed his arsenal—his arsenal not just physically but mentally. He added four variations and whittled them down to what genuinely gave him success.
What transpired? An extraordinary second coming. He was an important part of KKR’s successful 2024 IPL campaign and produced two match-winning spells in 2025 when India lifted the Champions trophy. The spin-bowler who did not know if he could be now the spin-bowler whom all the other spin-bowlers were watching video of.
So, contemplate this cricket fan (or life hustler) question: Would you be prepared to lose everything to become more than you ever thought possible? Let us know in the comments – what would your version of throwing the stock ball away be?
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