Varun Chakravarthy. (Photo Source: BCCI)
Returning to the biggest stage of cricket after a period of almost three years and performing in the manner in which Varun Chakravarthy did may not be everyone’s cup of tea. All this, while because he was leading the spin-bowling department in addition to getting battered for 15 runs in his first over of the game, makes his three-wicket haul all the more remarkable.
However, only Chakravarthy knew the immense hard work put in behind his performance and decided to share a key technical modification he made to his bowling.
“I used to be a side-spin bowler, but right now, I have completely shifted to being an over-spin bowler. It’s a minute technical aspect of spin bowling, but it took me more than two years. I gradually tested it in the TNPL and the IPL. While the mental aspect also had to be worked on, the major chunk of effort I put in was on my technical side,” stated Chakravarthy, as quoted by India Today.
Chakravarthy’s victims were Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, and Rishad Hossain. He wasn’t the only bowler to secure three wickets from the Indian side, as Arshdeep Singh accounted for three of his own in what was a miserly spell from the left-arm pacer which allowed India to restrict Bangladesh to just 127 in the first innings.
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What is the difference between side-spin and over-spin?
The primary point of difference between a side-spin and an over-spin is the effect the ball has in the air and off the pitch.
If the ball is side-spun, it rotates at right angles to the direction of the rotation. Whereas, the ball rotating forwards towards the direction of the batter is termed as a delivery possessing over-spin or top-spin on it.
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What causes over-spin on the ball is a phenomenon called the Magnus Effect which makes the ball dip sharply while on its way to the batter and bounce higher off the pitch, often deceiving the batter on strike.