64/1 – Varun Chakaravarthy delivered one of the worst knockout performances in the 2026 T20 World Cup semifinal against England. The spinner was tonked all over the park. Whatever mystery he had disappeared at the Wankhede Stadium.
On a disappointing run since the Super 8 commenced, Varun didn’t impress in a must-win match. That begs the question: will India consider dropping him for the T20 World Cup final against New Zealand?
India not worried about Varun
Suryakumar Yadav was asked the tough question at the Narendra Modi Stadium on the eve of the match. The Indian captain emphatically stated that the management isn’t concerned about Chakaravarthy’s performance. They still believe he’s their best spinner and can deliver in the final.
“Varun’s form is not a concern. We are not worried (about him); it’s a team sport. We are focusing on winning the game. We don’t think about that much (his performance); we won the match (semifinal against England). He is the world’s No. 1 bowler; he knows how to make this team win. Changes we will see tomorrow”, Suryakumar told reporters in Ahmedabad on the eve of the T20 World Cup final.
Varun Chakaravarthy stats in T20 World Cup 2026
| Innings | Overs | Wickets | Average | Economy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Until Group Stage | 4 | 12 | 9 | 6.88 | 5.16 |
| Since Super 8 | 4 | 16 | 4 | 46.50 | 11.62 |
What exactly’s gone wrong?
The answer to what’s gone wrong with Chakaravarthy isn’t simple. For starters, teams are attacking him more, especially early in his spell. This forces him to go on the back foot and defend instead of attack. As a result, he ups his speed, which helps batters line him up on true surfaces.
Perhaps the batters are reading the ball out of his hand, which they weren’t able to do earlier. Left-handers have especially taken him apart: David Miller, Shimron Hetmyer, and Jacob Bethell. Perhaps because he’s going round the wicket to them more often. Against right-handers, he’s bowling too wide. Another factor is the bare minimum help from the surface.
Cricket
Will India consider dropping Varun Chakaravarthy for T20 World Cup final? Suryakumar Yadav answers
