Varun Chakravarthy, the hero of India’s 2025 Champions Trophy triumph, faced a harrowing experience in 2021 when he received threat calls after a lackluster performance in the T20 World Cup. Varun, who had made his T20I debut in July 2021, was part of the Indian team in the World Cup, but his performance was underwhelming, leaving him without a single wicket across three matches. His struggles mirrored India’s early exit from the tournament, which included a historic 10-wicket loss to Pakistan.

Reflecting on this tough period in a YouTube interview, Varun shared the emotional toll it took on him. He felt his international career might be over after such a disappointing World Cup campaign. Despite this, he made a remarkable comeback in 2024, leading Kolkata Knight Riders to an IPL title. His stellar performance earned him a spot in the Champions Trophy squad, where he claimed nine wickets, including a five-wicket haul against New Zealand in the group stage. His performance in the final against New Zealand helped secure the trophy for India.