Sometimes, even the best spells are not enough to change the scoreboard
Varun Chakravarthy is well-acquainted with the harsh realities of cricket. He delivered an extraordinary performance against South Africa in the second T20I at St George’s Park, taking an impressive 5 wickets for 17 runs. Despite his remarkable effort, India lost the match by three wickets. Varun now joins a unique group of bowlers whose best career bowling figures came in a losing cause. He is not alone in this; many of the finest bowlers have faced similar situations. Let’s begin with his story and then explore other bowlers who were left unrewarded despite their exceptional performances.
Varun Chakravarthy’s maiden five-wicket haul should have been a dream achievement. He kept the South African batters guessing with an impressive mix of googlies and leg breaks, putting them in a precarious position at 66 for 6. With only 40 runs needed from the last five overs, South Africa’s teenage sensation, Tristan Stubbs, stepped up to the challenge.
He adopted a composed approach, skillfully managing the attack and, alongside Gerald Coetzee, helped turn the game back in South Africa’s favour. As Varun watched, his impressive figures of 5 for 17—the best bowling spell by a bowler from a Full Member nation in a T20I defeat—became a bittersweet moment for him.
Varun’s story may appear unusual, but it is not unique. Over the years, bowlers have put on a show yet lost. Here are several memorable spells that deserved victory but ended up as consolation prizes:
Mustafizur Rahman bowled exceptionally well in the 2016 World T20, taking 5 wickets for 22 runs and restricting New Zealand’s batting lineup at Eden Gardens. Bangladesh needed to chase a target of 146 runs, but things went awry. The team lost wickets quickly, being bowled out for just 70 runs and losing the match by 75 runs. Despite Mustafizur’s impressive bowling performance, his team’s batting collapse overshadowed his achievements, highlighting the unforgiving nature of cricket.
Australian all-rounder Matthew Short stood out against England in Cardiff, taking 5/22 in a thrilling T20I match. England, chasing a total of 194, concluded their innings at 194/7, with Liam Livingstone hitting 87, Tom Bethell 44, and Phil Salt 39. Despite Short’s great bowling effort, Australia fell short; England won by three wickets, with Short’s remarkable performance being one of the highlights.
In 2022, Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s reliable 4/13 against South Africa gave Indian fans optimism as he ripped through the South African top order. South Africa’s target of 149 seems unfeasible. However, Heinrich Klaasen had other ideas, leading South Africa to triumph with a then-career-best 81. Bhuvi’s remarkable efficiency and wicket-taking skills were wasted as South Africa cruised to a six-wicket victory.
Ravi Bishnoi bowled an exciting 4/13 in a dismal T20I in Harare, Zimbabwe, limiting the hosts to 115 runs. India’s inexperienced, experimental team could not chase down the low target, falling 13 runs short and being bowled out for 102. Bishnoi’s superb bowling was in vain, as Zimbabwe won, gaining a rare victory against the cricketing superpowers.
