Ravichandran Ashwin Questions ICC's Player of the Tournament Award: Why Varun Chakravarthy Worthy of Such a Honour

The just-concluded Champions Trophy saw some mesmerizing performances, capped by India's winning campaign. While New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra was officially presented with the 'Player of the Tournament' award, seasoned Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin had a different take on it. Ashwin, among the greatest cricket minds, believes mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy was indeed the game-changer of the tournament and should have received the coveted award instead.

Varun Chakravarthy's Entry into the Squad-A Change of Fortune

Surprisingly, Chakravarthy wasn't even a part of India's original squad for the Champions Trophy. His inclusion was made after he produced a series of outstanding performances in the white-ball series against England. Realizing his potential, the selectors made a last-minute decision to bring him into the squad and it turned out to be a masterstroke. Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma and tactical guidance of head coach Gautam Gambhir, Chakravarthy was given an opportunity to showcase his talent. Although he did not play the entire tournament, his presence made itself known.

Ashwin's Strong Stand-The Real MVP

Talking on his Hindi YouTube channel, 'Ash Ki Baat,' Ashwin vehemently differed with the ICC's decision of awarding Ravindra as the tournament's most outstanding player. According to him, the award must go to the player who played the most in the most critical situations, and in his view, Chakravarthy was the ideal candidate for it.

"Whatever said and done, Player of the Tournament, as I see it, was Varun Chakravarthy. He didn't play all the games, but his influence was enormous. Without Varun, this tournament would have gone a totally different way. With Varun came the X-factor that we didn't have before him. If I had to name someone, I would have given it to Varun because he was the difference-maker in this tournament," added Ashwin.

Game-Changing Performance-Glenn Phillips Dismissal

Ashwin identified Chakravarthy's phenomenal ball that dismissed New Zealand's Glenn Phillips as game-changing in the final, according to him. He explained how Chakravarthy utilized his strategic skill to outplay Phillips by taking a step towards the leg-side and bowling a concealed googly, leaving no words for the batsman to speak.

"See how he pushed back Glenn Phillips. It was not a case of the talent alone but also about grasping the art of reading the movement of the batsman. Phillips was not in his crease yet, and so Varun adjusted his line and produced a superb googly. This is the kind of control which should be rewarded," exclaimed Ashwin with passion.

India's Bowling Brilliance-The Key to Success

While much has been attributed to India's batting lineup, Ashwin is of the opinion that the team's bowling attack was the deciding factor in winning the Champions Trophy. He pointed to how the bowlers restricted New Zealand to a meager score of 251/7 in the final, setting the stage for India's victory.

What makes the victory all the more sweeter is that India won the tournament without Jasprit Bumrah. Let this sink in. No Bumrah, and yet they overpowered. That speaks volumes about the quality and depth of Indian cricket today," Ashwin said.

Chakravarthy's Reflection-A Dream Come True

After India's record win, Chakravarthy himself was left speechless at the manner in which his tour had unfolded. Having taken the second-most wickets in the tournament, he admitted that he had not expected so fruitful a spell.

"I did not think things would go this way. It is a dream come true. The conditions during the first innings were not yielding much spin, so I had to stay disciplined and keep holding on to the basics," Chakravarthy stated in a post-match interview.

A Daring Gist by Ashwin-Fuelling the Debate

Ashwin's observations have generated a buzz among the fans and cricket experts as well. Although Ravindra was superb in the tournament, there is no escaping the fact that Chakravarthy contributed something special to the Indian campaign. His last-minute inclusion, match-winning performances, and knack of delivering in pressure situations render him a serious candidate for the 'Player of the Tournament' award.

With India's victory in the Champions Trophy serving as a vindication of their might and preparation, one thing is sure: the rise of the likes of Chakravarthy also serves to emphasize the depth of the nation when it comes to talent. Whether or not ICC modifies its award rulings in the future, Ashwin's open suggestion of Chakravarthy ensures that his contribution towards India's victory will not soon be forgotten.