In the second T20I at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Varun Chakaravarthy and Australia’s Tim David engaged in a fascinating mental battle during Australia's chase of 126 runs.
Australia was comfortably positioned, needing 39 runs from 12 overs when Tim David came to the crease after captain Mitchell Marsh was dismissed by Kuldeep Yadav in the 8th over. Indian spinners complicated the chase despite Australia's strong position.
Chakaravarthy, who had already dismissed Travis Head, set an attacking field for his next over. Tilak Varma was placed at forward short-leg, prompting David to laugh as he approached, sensing pressure tactics from India captain Suryakumar Yadav.
David responded with his own antics; as Chakaravarthy began his run-up, David walked away, unsettling the leg-spinner. Chakaravarthy retaliated by deliberately not bowling the next delivery, a move that amused the captain and commentators alike.
David eventually scored with a push to mid-off but soon fell victim to Chakaravarthy’s skill. He chipped a ball straight back to the leg-spinner, who caught it effortlessly, marking a decisive moment in the game.
"Chakaravarthy had the last laugh when he got another crack at the hard-hitting batter. David chipped it straight back to Chakaravarthy, who made no mistakes in gobbling up the simple catch."
Summary: Varun Chakaravarthy turned a playful mind game into a crucial wicket, showcasing his skill and composure under pressure.