Until 2 weeks ago, Varun Chakaravarthy wasn’t just India’s number one spinner but also the best one in the world. In the group stage of the T20 World Cup 2026, he ran through oppositions. But come the Super 8s, all that mystery about his bowling has dissipated.
South Africa had no issues reading him. The West Indies targeted him. Even Zimbabwe wasn’t clueless. The ICC ranking showed him as the number one bowler in T20Is, but it didn’t look that way.
Varun Chakaravarthy stats in T20 World Cup 2026
| Stage | Innings | Overs | Wickets | Average | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group | 4 | 12 | 9 | 6.88 | 5.16 |
| Super 8 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 40.66 | 10.16 |
Varun Chakaravarthy working hard
Facing England, a team he’s troubled in the past, Varun should ideally feel confident. But that isn’t the case. On the eve of the semifinal, just 4 Indian players turned up for practice at Wankhede Stadium. Varun was one of them.
The spinner worked with assistant coaches Morne Morkel and Ryan ten Doeschate, talking with them throughout. After the practice session, Morkel addressed the media, talking about Varun at length. The former South African fast bowler shared that Varun prefers to train a day before the game to be prepared.
“Just a normal routine session with Varun. He really enjoys a single-wicket practice day before the game. We can mentally go through his process. The conversations we have had are just about clarity and for him to walk away feeling good about his bowling,” Morkel told reporters in Mumbai.
Morkel backed the spinner, stating that Varun has the ability to take a wicket on every ball. A skill most spinners don’t possess. The coach feels that Varun hasn’t handled the pressure well enough. Perhaps because he’s putting a lot of pressure on himself. But feels he’ll come good in the India vs England semifinal.
“Obviously, I can’t reveal his process. But I keep on telling him that in our bowling line-up, with the skill and the variation Varun has, he has the ability to take a wicket almost every ball. So if he goes for a boundary or the ball, he’s not executed as well as possible. For him, it is just to move on to the next one and make sure he commits to the next ball.”
“I think for Varun, at times, to his credit, he wants to be a big performer for the team. So, he will put a bit of pressure on himself. But he’s a match-winner for us,” Morkel added.
Varun Chakaravarthy stats vs England in T20Is
| Innings | Overs | Wickets | Average | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 18 | 14 | 9.85 | 7.66 |
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IND vs ENG, T20 World Cup semifinal: Business End but not end of business for India
