C.V. Varun watched the IPL auction that has transformed his life from his family home in Thanjavur.
“I was with my parents, my sister and my grandparents. I was a little nervous when my name came up,” he told The Hindu on Tuesday.
Then, as the bids kept rising, Varun conceded, “I panicked a little. I never thought I would go for so much. Then came a feeling of responsibility for the franchise,” said the 26-year-old Tamil Nadu ‘mystery’ spinner.
Varun’s base price was just ₹20 lakhs, but he sparked a bidding war between five franchises and went for a whopping 8.4 crore.
Remarkable turnaround
The last two years have seen a remarkable turnaround for this spinner with variations; he can send down the leg-spinner, the carrom ball, the leg-cutter, the off-spinner, the flipper, the top-spinner and the arm ball.
Importantly, Varun can turn the ball both ways and has good control for someone so inexperienced. “I can send down nine different kinds of deliveries but I focus on accuracy,” he said.
And bowlers of his ilk are in demand in Twenty20 cricket. There was a buzz around Varun even before the auction.
Last year, Varun was languishing in the TNCA fourth division league. An opportunity to bowl at some of the Tamil Nadu Ranji batsmen at the nets — he harried them with his turn and bounce — opened pathways for him.
Successful TNPL
Varun was immensely successful in the two seasons of the Tamil Nadu Premier League, both with his accuracy and variations.
And the IPL talent scouts were watching. Varun was a net bowler for Kolkata Knight Riders last season and went for trials with Mumbai Indians this year.
Fast tracked into the Tamil Nadu team, he impressed during the Vijay Hazare one-day tournament earning respect from the opposition.
The lanky spinner with a high-arm action actually began as a paceman, but switched to spin. His favourite spinner is Stuart MacGill. “I admired him. He used to get the ball to spin and turn so much.”
And he is excited about playing under R. Ashwin in Kings XI Punjab. “I am looking forward to it. I can learn so much from him.”
Varun is all set to fly in the IPL.