Did you know Varun Chakravarthy made his debut as an actor in Tamil film Jeeva before stepping into cricket? Read more

Long before Varun Chakravarthy became a mystery spin sensation and played a key role in India's ICC Champions Trophy victory, his journey was anything but ordinary. It was filled with twists and turns that could easily fit into a Bollywood movie. Varun didn’t always dream of being a cricketer—he had a completely different path in mind.

Varun Chakravarthy in Jeeva Tamil film

In 2014, Varun made his acting debut in the Tamil sports drama Jeeva, where he portrayed a cricketer battling against the odds.

Ironically, at that very time, he was also on a cooking reality show called Cooku with Comali, where he traded cricket for spatulas. But even as people saw him dabbling in acting and cooking, Varun’s heart beats for cricket, a sport he had put aside for a "more practical" career.

With a degree in Architecture from SRM University, Varun worked as an architect, designing buildings by day while dreaming of stumps by night.

At the age of 25, Varun made a bold decision that shocked many. He left his job as an architect and decided to pursue cricket full-time.

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He joined a local club as a wicketkeeper-batter and seam bowler, but just as things seemed to be taking off, a knee injury forced him to reinvent his game.

That’s when he discovered his talent for mystery spin bowling. With a mind trained in architecture, Varun started to "design" unplayable deliveries.

His big break came during the 2017-18 season when he took 31 wickets in just seven games. In the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), he became Madurai’s secret weapon, attracting the attention of IPL scouts. Soon, Kings XI Punjab purchased him for Rs 8.4 crore.

However, injuries delayed his IPL debut until Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) took a chance on him in 2019. Varun made the most of this opportunity, taking 17 wickets, including a five-wicket haul, and quickly became KKR’s spin wizard.

Varun’s international journey wasn’t easy either. Despite delays due to fitness issues, he finally made his debut for India in T20 internationals in 2021 and later became the second-oldest player to debut in ODIs for India.

By the time the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy final arrived, Varun was ready to shine.

In the final against New Zealand, he played a crucial role in India's victory, taking two key wickets to help secure the win. His performance throughout the tournament was impressive, finishing with the second-highest number of wickets. Varun had truly transformed from an actor, architect, and chef into one of India’s top mystery spinners.