According to former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif, Varun Chakaravarthy is now ranked higher in the Indian T20I team’s hierarchy than Kuldeep Yadav. Since returning to the national team in 2024, Chakaravarthy has been India’s top wicket-taker in Twenty20 International cricket.
Chakaravarthy played in both of the current Twenty20 International series between India and New Zealand, but Kuldeep only played in the second, replacing all-rounder Axar Patel.
According to Kaif, the Indian team’s management is adamant that Chakaravarthy is their preferred spinner. The mystery spinner can bowl inside the powerplay, which is something Kuldeep doesn’t do very often, according to the cricketer-turned-expert. Chakaravarthy can take wickets at any stage of the innings, he continued.
“Chakaravarthy has moved a little bit ahead of Kuldeep.” Although both are excellent bowlers, Varun is currently in the lead if you have to choose. This was also evident in the previous game. Kuldeep didn’t participate. Axar and Varun played. Thus, Team India’s planning is now extremely apparent. Varun, who is also that type of bowler, is the better pick if Varun and Kuldeep are up against each other. In a video posted to his YouTube account, Kaif stated, “He has never disappointed.”
Chakaravarthy is yours to use in the powerplay whenever you’d like. Typically, Kuldeep does not bowl on the powerplay. Chakaravarthy does. Concerned that Varun would score 20 runs, the captain will always give him the fourth or fifth over. Varun is not a cause for such worry. He enters the game and takes wickets in the middle overs, the fifth over, the powerplay, and later on,” he continued.
Kaif likens the in-form spinner to Jasprit Bumrah, saying, “Varun has now come into that same league.”
For many years, Jasprit Bumrah has led India with the ball in all formats. According to Kaif, Chakaravarthy is comparable to a captain who can rely on him to use a spell to alter the course of play. Chakaravarthy doesn’t get upset when he gets hit for a boundary because he believes he can get the batter out on the next ball, according to the 45-year-old.
I believe it takes a lot of luck for a bowler like Varun to join the Indian squad. Regardless of the circumstances or the situation, a captain is extremely fortunate to have a bowler like him. Varun has now entered the same category as Bumrah, who can say, “Take the ball and change the game with a spell.” “Varun, take the ball and get wickets,” Kaif advised.
“Varun has advanced significantly. When it comes to control, he used to bowl only the googly. He has now mastered leg spin as well. He is aware that he can get the batter out on the subsequent ball, so it doesn’t matter if he gets hit for one or two balls. He continued, “As a spinner, you can see that confidence in yourself when you believe that you can still take a wicket on the next delivery; it doesn’t matter if you get hit.”
Home