Varun Chakravarthy, one of India’s standout performers in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, took a cheeky jab at critics who suggested that India’s triumph was aided by favourable scheduling. After India’s thrilling four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the final, Chakravarthy posted a celebratory picture on Instagram, where he was seen sipping coffee with the Champions Trophy in hand. His captioned the image, “A lot of distance was travelled to get a taste of this Cup".

The remark appeared to be a witty response to not only to the critics but also Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed following his recent post during Champions Trophy. Abrar posted a picture of himself dressed in green and white attire with a cup of tea in hand, and he wrote in the caption “last cup of Fantastic evening tea” before the fasts began while mocking Indian Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman’s case.

Chakravarthy Shines as India Lifts Champions Trophy

Varun Chakravarthy finished the tournament as India's joint-highest wicket-taker alongside Mohamad Shami with 9 wickets including a five-wicket haul against New Zealand in the group stage.

Chakravarthy played a crucial role in India’s campaign, consistently troubling opposition batters with his spin. He was instrumental in the final, delivering a 2-45 spell against New Zealand that helped restrict them to 254 runs. His impact was felt early, as he dismissed Will Young, setting the tone for India’s chase.

While India's travel-free schedule did work in their favor, their journey to the title was built on strong performances. Unlike New Zealand, who had to shuttle between Pakistan and Dubai for their matches, and South Africa, who faced last-minute venue uncertainties, India maintained their consistency and executed their plans flawlessly.

With this victory, India secured their first ICC ODI title since 2013, and Chakravarthy cemented his place as a key asset in India’s bowling attack, combining skill with a touch of humor to silence critics in style.