Varun Chakravarthy. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy opened up on his preparations for the upcoming Asia Cup, starting from September 9 onwards and also on the support he received from T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir on his return to white-ball cricket for India.

India’s campaign at the Asia Cup will kickstart from September 10 onwards against UAE. Spinner Varun, who has taken 33 wickets in 18 T20Is so far, looks forward to being a crucial addition in the Indian-set-up as he is on a roll since his international cricket return last year, taking two big five-wicket hauls in T20Is and one in ODIs during the ICC Champions Trophy winning campaign too.

Speaking to Boria Majumdar at Revsportz, he said about his preparation that he is having a one-month break and also worked on his “strength and conditioning, fitness, my bowling, my batting, and everything.”

“The Asia Cup is coming up, and for the white-ball players, they have got a good break after the IPL. I did play TNPL [Tamil Nadu Premier League], but still I have got a one-month break right now. It has been a good time to work on my strength and conditioning, fitness, my bowling, my batting, and everything. I got time to rejuvenate my entire self in a holistic way. Feeling better because I got a lot of time to spend with my kid, my wife, my parents. Yes, I think, I have put in the hard yards. Now, the rest is up to the bigger force,” he said.

Speaking on his plans for the ODI World Cup 2027, a format which he has played four times and taken 10 wickets with a five-wicket haul, Varun said that after Asia Cup, he aims to excel in white-ball tours for India.

“After the Asia Cup, there is a long streak of many white-ball tours coming up and they are challenging ones as well. So the primary goal will be to excel in all those tours, then hit the World Cup with good confidence and more clarity within myself and the process that I am trying to develop,” he said.

The conditions in Dubai will suit Varun, as he took nine wickets in three matches during the ICC CT 2025. Varun said that while wickets in Dubai helped him, there are many factors that have to be in place for him to perform.

“One factor out of those is the ground conditions, and I hope they favours us. On the other hand, in IPL, you may have seen that the factors and conditions do not help the bowlers much. So, I am also used to bowling in such conditions. Hence, I am ready for both, but I am very eager to see how the pitches are at this point of the year in the UAE,” he added.

Varun admitted that T20I skipper Surya and coach Gambhir played a big role in his comeback and before the tour of Bangladesh for T20Is, the skipper told him, “I am looking at you, let us see how the other things go, but I am keen on having you in the team set-up.”

“Similarly, Gauti Bhai also has helped me a lot in my comeback, the way he motivates me. Even if we talk little, he has always given me good confidence and he has always told that “no matter who’s going to ignore you, I will keep you in my plans for now”.

So, that kind of gave me confidence. And if you ask about Gauti Bhai as a mentor, then I would say he brings in a warrior mindset in the dressing room, which is very important and has worked for us at KKR and in the Champions Trophy,” he added.

Varun remarked that as seen during the 2-2 drawn Test tour to England, Gambhir brings energy to the dressing room and around him, “there is no mediocrity”.

“You give everything you have and it does not matter whether you win or you lose. And about Surya, he is someone very similar to Rohit Sharma – that is what I’ve seen. He is a very tactically sound, and maybe his time at MI Mumbai Indians has given him good exposure to great captains. He is a very good guy and never puts pressure on the bowlers. It would be a bowler’s delight to have a captain like him,” he concluded.

Published – August 19, 2025 04:57 am IST

India’s Varun Chakravarthy celebrates the wicket of England’s batsman during the 3rd T20 Cricket match between India and England at Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on Tuesday January 28, 2025.
| Photo Credit: VIJAY SONEJI

Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy continued his solid run of form in international cricket, breaking Kuldeep Yadav’s record for most wickets by an Indian spinner in a stretch of T20I matches.

Chakravarthy has been a revelation for the T20I side since his return to the set-up last year, having last played for India in 2021 before that.

In the third T20I, Chakravarthy shined with figures of 5/24 in four overs, getting wickets of skipper Jos Buttler, Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse and Jofra Archer, which completely derailed England from 83/1 to 127/8.

Now since his return to T20Is last year, Varun has played 10 matches, taking 27 wickets at an average of 10.96, an economy rate of 7.40 and best bowling figures of 5/17.

After 16 overall games, he has taken 29 wickets at an average of 14.65, with an economy rate of 6.84, which is also impressive.

Now, he has overtaken Kuldeep Yadav (25 wickets) for most wickets by an Indian spinner in the 10-match stretch in T20Is.

Globally, he stands at number three, next to Syazrul Idrus (Malaysia, 28 wickets) and Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan (Afghanistan, 30 wickets).

Indian batters faltered against an incisive England bowling attack as the visitors raised their game in a must-win scenario to win the third T20I by 26 runs and keep the five-match series alive.

Mohammed Shami made a solid comeback to international cricket after 14 months but it was Varun Chakravarthy’s bowling effort that stood out as his five-wicket haul helped India limit England to 171/9.

India should have chased down the target but the batters could only manage 145/9 in 20 overs.

India still lead the series 2-1 with the fourth game scheduled in Pune on January 31.

India’s Varun Chakravarthy during the T20 Match against England at the Eden Garden in Kolkata on January 22, 2025.
| Photo Credit: R. V. Moorthy

Varun Chakravarthy wove his magic of spin in the backyard of his franchise team Kolkata Knight Riders to capture three wickets and opener Abhishek Sharma cracked a blistering half-century to power India to a convincing seven-wicket win over England in the first of the five-match T20 series at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday.

After restricting England to a modest 132, the host rushed to the target to the joy of a packed house.

India was off to a rollicking start by plundering 63 for two in the Powerplay despite losing two wickets to Jofra Archer in the fifth over.

Sanju Samson (26), who utilised his gift of timing to hammer 22 off Gus Atkinson’s first over, provided the ignition before ill-timing a pull. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav miscued one to the leg side.

The two blows could not deter Abhishek (79, 34b, 5×4, 8×6), who treated Mark Wood with his clean strike – hammering successive sixes over fine-leg and third man and a straight four in the sixth over.

The southpaw used his feet well against spinner Adil Rashid. He hoisted Rashid over mid-wicket and long-on and Jamie Overton over fine-leg on his way to complete his half-century at a breathtaking pace, in just 20 deliveries, before unleashing more fireworks. He fell to Rashid when the target was in sight.

Earlier, Mohammed Shami’s return to international cricket got longer as Suryakumar chose to field three spinners amid speculation split over the pacer’s form and fitness and India’s tactical move.

With plenty of dew on the field and the prospect of the pitch playing slow and the ball skidding, Suryakumar decided to bowl first.

Arshdeep extracted impressive seam movement and bowled in good areas to strike in quick succession. The third delivery of the match surprised Phil Salt even before he could open his account. Salt’s leading edge went miles up in the air before Sanju calmly accepted the catch.

In Arshdeep’s next over, southpaw Ben Duckett, looking to play on the onside, managed a leading edge. Rinku Singh, posted at cover, ran back to take a spectacular high catch and help Arshdeep become the country’s top wicket-taker in T20 by overtaking Yuzvendra Chahal’s tally of 96 wickets.

Unperturbed, captain Jos Buttler (68, 44b, 8×4, 2×6) batted aggressively, choosing Hardik Pandya for special treatment, as he added 48 quick runs with Harry Brook.

Varun displayed his control over flight and spin to scalp two in his second over and switch the momentum. Brooks, who had problems in reading the spinner, played for the turn but inside-edged one onto his pads and the stumps. Liam Livingstone was also bowled in a similar fashion.

Hardik removed Jacob Bethell and Axar claimed the wickets of Overton and Atkinson in consecutive overs. The wicketless Ravi Bishnoi kept it tight to apply more pressure.

The one-man show of Buttler, who showcased his range of shots and placement skills on both sides in his fine knock, ended as he pulled Varun to Nitish Reddy in the 17th over.

Scoreboard:

England: Phil Salt c Samson b Arshdeep 0 Ben Duckett c Singh b Arshdeep 4 Jos Buttler c Nitish Reddy b Varun 68 Harry Brook b Varun 17 Liam Livingstone b Varun 0 Jacob Bethell c Abhishek Sharma b Pandya 7 Jamie Overton c Nitish Reddy b Patel 2 Gus Atkinson st Samson b Patel 2 Jofra Archer c Yadav b Pandya 12 Adil Rashid not out 8 Mark Wood run out 1

Extras: (B-5 LB-1 W-5) 11

Total: (All out in 20 overs) 132

Fall of wickets: 1/0 2/17 3/65 4/65 5/83 6/95 7/103 8/109 9/130 10/132

Bowling: Arshdeep Singh 4-0-17-2, Hardik Pandya 4-0-42-2, Varun Chakravarthy 4-0-23-3, Axar Patel 4-1-22-2, Ravi Bishnoi 4-0-22-0

India: Sanju Samson c Atkinson b Archer 26 Abhishek Sharma c Brook b Rashid 79 Suryakumar Yadav c Salt b Archer 0 Tilak Varma not out 19 Hardik Pandya not out 3

Extras: (B-4 LB-1 W-1) 6

Total: (For 3 wickets in 12.5 overs) 133

Fall of wickets: 1/41 2/41 3/125

Bowling: Jofra Archer 4-0-21-2, Gus Atkinson 2-0-38-0, Mark Wood 2.5-0-25-0, Adil Rashid 2-0-27-1, Jamie Overton 1-0-10-0, Liam Livingstone 1-0-7-0

Varun Chakravarthy celebrates the dismissal of South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen during the second T20 cricket match between South Africa and India at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, South Africa on November 10, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

Spinner Varun Chakravarthy’s magical craftiness en route a maiden fifer remained a mere footnote as South Africa rode on the stubbornness of Tristan Stubbs to eke out a three-wicket win over India in a low-scoring second T20I at Gqeberha in South Africa on Sunday (November 10, 2024).

The four-match series is now level at 1-1. But SA’s victory, which also halted India’s 11-match winning streak, did not come without its share of drama.

The first hint of a topsy-turvy night came when India limped to 124 for six on a quick, bouncy pitch after getting the invitation to bat first.

The Proteas were at one stage 66 for six and 86 for seven, which eventually transpired into 128 for seven, as Chakravarthy continued his international resurgence with a five-wicket haul (5/17).

But SA found two valiant soldiers in determined Stubbs (47 not out, 41b, 7×4) and aggressive Gerald Coetzee (19 not out, 9b, 2×4, 1×6) who added a precious 42 runs for the eighth wicket alliance to carry their side past the tape.

However, Chakravarthy deserves credit for making the match a thrilling affair. The Tamil Nadu man came to the party after pacer Arshdeep Singh dismissed opener Riyan Rickelton in the third over.

Chakravarthy started his dismantling job going through the defences of SA skipper Aiden Markram, who failed to read a wrong’un.

Reeza Hendricks (24, 21b, 3×4, 1×6) looked comfortable until he failed to pick Chakarvarthy’s googly that rearranged his woodwork.

But the home side did not look in any great danger even at 34 for two after the Power Play, but Chakravarthy’s twin blow in the 13th over pegged the Proteas back.

Heinrich Klaasen, a capable player of spin, chose to go aerial route only to find Rinku Singh in the deep.

David Miller’s tentative prod off the first ball he faced met with thin air as the straight one from the Indian spinner, which quickened after pitched, crashed onto his off-stump.

But Stubbs and Coetzee, who put pacers Arshdeep and Avesh Khan through the wringer, had enough steam in them to give their side a win, as India strangely used left-spinner Axar Patel for only one over on a pitch where tweakers took six wickets.

Earlier, Indian batters too were all at sea on a springy St George’s Park deck against disciplined South African bowlers.

The Proteas bowlers hit the back of length line and the natural bounce on the pitch did the rest. Abhishek Sharma’s dismissal was an example for this.

The left-hander’s underwhelming outings in T20Is continued as his miscued pull off a climbing delivery from Coetzee ended in the hands of Marco Jansen, who made the first strike dismissing Sanju Samson.

Samson, who had become the first Indian batsman to score back-to-back T20I hundreds, gave himself space to carve Jansen over mid-off, but the opener paid a heavy price for needless pre-meditation to get bowled.

Jansen started off with a wicket maiden and the rest of the SA bowlers hardly offered any freebies for Indian batters to shake off the pressure.

Skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who shuffled across a tad too much, missed a fuller delivery from Andile Simelane to get trapped in front of the stumps, and it was the pacer’s maiden international wicket.

Axar (27, 21b), who was moved up the order played a couple of delectable shots including a punch through the covers off Keshav Maharaj for a four, was India’s most assured batter on the night.

But the left-hander backed up a bit too far as Hardik Pandya’s straight drive took a deflection off spinner Peter Nqabayomzi’s hand before rattling the stumps. Axar did not even wait for the review to walk away.

In the interim, India went through a boundary-less period between the 10th and 16th over, which was ended when Arshdeep mowed leg-spinner Peter for a six.

Even an accomplished hitter like Hardik Pandya (39, 45 balls) had to wait till his 28th delivery to find a boundary reflected India’s struggles.

Mayank Yadav who has been on the sidelines since April 30 after suffering an injury during the IPL 2024 will be returning to the Indian squad for the T20Is against Bangladesh.
| Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini

India’s fastest bowler Mayank Yadav on Saturday (September 28, 2024) got fast-tracked into the Indian team for the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh after completing his near five-month rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy.

The team set to be led by Suryakumar Yadav only has one more senior — former T20I skipper Hardik Pandya — in its ranks as all the recent IPL performers have been selected.

Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who plays for Kolkata Knight Riders, got a recall after three years since his nightmarish T20 World Cup campaign in the UAE in 2021.

Nitish Reddy, the back-up seamer all-rounder after Pandya and Shivam Dube, also got a look-in after he missed out on the recent Zimbabwe tour owing to an injury.

The talented players like Riyan Parag, Abhishek Sharma, Harshit Rana have all found a place in the 15-man squad that has Jitesh Sharma as the second keeper behind Sanju Samson.

The biggest surprise is certainly the inclusion of Mayank, who consistently bowled mid-150 clicks for Lucknow Super Giants during three of his four IPL matches including back-to-back Player of the Match awards which garnered global attention.

It was during mid-IPL, the 22-year-old Mayank, who hails from Delhi, was ruled out due to lower abdominal strain.

Such has been his talent that he was wrapped in cotton wool with an extensive rehabilitation programme and of late has been bowling 14-15 overs per day at the NCA.

However, it is believed that before being unleashed into red ball format in Ranji Trophy, Bangladesh series is the best opportunity for the national selection committee and head coach Gautam Gambhir to check out how he is coping at the international level with only four overs to bowl.

If his body holds up well, they might slowly draft him into the longer formats as he is considered a prospect who will serve Indian cricket for the longest time.

Chakravarthy, a vital cog in KKR’s victorious IPL campaign under Gambhir’s mentorship, was overlooked as recently as the tour to Zimbabwe and also Sri Lanka despite an impressive 21 wickets from 14 games.

However, it is understood that Gambhir was very keen on having Chakravarthy, who mainly bowls fast leg-breaks along with a deceptive wrong ‘un.

India will play three T20Is in Gwalior (October 6), New Delhi (October 9) and Hyderabad (October 12) against Najmul Hossain Shanto’s Bangladesh.

India squad for the Bangladesh T20Is:

Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Riyan Parag, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakaravarthy, JItesh Sharma (wk), Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav.

Kolkata Knight Riders bowler Varun Chakravarthy celebrates a wicket.
| Photo Credit: PTI

The biggest challenge Kolkata Knight Riders now faces is to keep performing consistently, said the team’s leg spinner Varun Chakravarthy.

“When you are at the top of the table, it gives you more responsibility. The best thing we can do right now is be consistent — which is tougher than trying to find out something and improve on it. It is about doing the basics right,” Varun said ahead of KKR’s match against Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens.

Varun said despite the Eden Gardens pitch not supporting spin he has been able to make adjustments according to the situation to get his rhythm back.

“Bowling on the Eden pitch was very tough initially and took everyone by storm. We have worked on our lines and lengths. We are also working on the angles and are trying to bowl from different areas of the crease,” Varun, who took three for 16 against Delhi Capitals in KKR’s last outing at home, said.

Varun said the team owner Sahrukh Khan has been constantly motivating the players. “SRK has been present in almost all matches in Kolkata. Even in the match where we did not do well (against Punjab Kings), he came to the dressing room and spoke to every player for an hour and hugged everyone.”