India’s pact with an unusual amalgam

On his comeback — brief, as it has turned out to be — to international cricket after more than two months, Varun Chakaravarthy finished with impressive figures of one for 16 from his full complement of four overs against Afghanistan on Sunday. On the face of it, there is nothing remarkable about those numbers, apart from the fact that he only went for four an over. But four an over is gold dust in the 20-over format, Afghanistan carry the not unfounded reputation of being terrific players of spin and Varun himself has had a difficult time of it from midway through India’s successful T20 World Cup campaign.