• Source:JND

IND vs ENG T20 World Cup 2026 Semifinal: After India's match against the Netherlands, ex-India cricketer Kris Srikkanth described Varun Chakravarthy as a modern-day great in the shortest format. He also said that Chakravarthy is more dangerous than Jasprit Bumrah in T20Is. The stats have proved him right, too.

After taking three wickets against the Dutch in three overs for just 14 runs, Varun was leading Bumrah 30-22 for wickets in their 21 matches together. Since his October 2024 comeback, he has claimed 69 wickets in 37 T20Is at an average of 14.17 and an economy just above 7.

However, as the Super 8s stage began, Varun's previously effective spin became less threatening. His 'Chakravyuh' is showing clear cracks, with 47 runs conceded in four overs against the Aiden Markram-led side, highlighting a sharp decline in form at a crucial stage.

ALSO READ: Michael Vaughan Backs Kuldeep Yadav Inclusion, Urges India To Make Bold Semi-Final Call

He improved slightly against Zimbabwe, but Briann Bennett and Sikandar Raza were able to face him comfortably as he gave away 35 runs in Chennai. Despite taking a wicket, he hoped to improve in the next Super 8s match.

Varun started well in Kolkata by taking Shai Hope's wicket, but his performance declined after that.

Leaking 40 runs in four overs has heightened concerns about Varun's reliability, especially ahead of the pivotal England semifinal. It underscores the central question: Is his spin arsenal cracking when India needs it most?

ALSO READ:  Six Sixes To Modern-Day Fireworks: Reliving Classic India vs England T20 World Cup Clashes

WHAT IS GOING WRONG?

One of the things that helped him become successful after his return to the national side in 2024 was how well he bowled leg-spin—a type of delivery that spins from the leg to the off side for a right-handed batter—and the googly, which is a deceptive delivery that spins the opposite way to the leg-spin.

He then started bowling leg spin with a conventional seam position (holding the ball so the seam points in a set direction) and with lots of overspin (imparting spin that makes the ball dip sharply when delivered).

"When Varun came on, he bowled quite a few carrom balls—a delivery flicked with the finger to make it spin unpredictably—but after a point it didn't deviate away [from the right-hand batter] much", Pratibhan, who is Varun's coach, was quoted as saying to ESPN Cricinfo in 2025. "So we worked on the legspin, and to make the googly—which is his best ball—even more lethal, we wanted to perfect the away-going legbreak (a delivery that spins away from a right-handed batter)", he added.

It appears Varun has moved away from his strength: frequent and effective leg-spin. This deviation is central to his current problems and critical to understanding why his threat level has dropped.

"Throughout this World Cup, I feel he has bowled very little leg-spin. He can work on his leg spin because right now, batters are waiting for his googly. Since the ball comes into the stumps, they treat it like an off-spinner and expect it to turn inward. That is why many of them can hit him towards long-on and straight with a full face of the bat," Kaif revealed.

The other problem is that the batters are using the step-hit (advancing down the pitch to hit) in his over, as they are trying not to use their footwork much and smash him. They put their front foot forward and try to hit a six (scoring the maximum by clearing the boundary) in their overs.

David Miller and Dewald Brevis did the same against him at Narendra Modi Stadium, with Brevis hitting a 4.9m six and Miller a 5.3m six. Twenty of the 60 sixes Varun has conceded in his career have come in the last 10 matches, highlighting his recent struggles.

He is often seen panicking after conceding runs. When playing for KKR as well, he tends to revert to the short ball or targets the pads when under pressure.

"Many batters are now coming prepared, knowing exactly how to plan against him (Varun). That is where a slight problem can arise. I have noticed that when he gives up runs, he sometimes shows a bit of panic. You can see it in the way he reacts. Instead of sticking to his natural wicket-to-wicket length, he starts bowling at the pads," he added.

HOPE AGAINST ENGLAND?

The focus will now shift to the semifinal match against the Harry Brook-led side in Mumbai. Many experts had suggested whether the Indian team management would pick Kuldeep Yadav, but Lakhshmipathi Balaji has still come out in Varun's support ahead of the match against England.

"Unfortunately, there is no place for Kuldeep. Who will you drop for him? I would love to have him, but there is no place. I cannot drop Varun for him. He has been a key. Even though he has gone for runs, I will definitely back Varun. Wankhede is a tough place for spinners with short boundaries," Balaji said.

There are stats to prove this notion. Of all the teams that Varun has played against in his career, he has taken 14 wickets after playing in five matches against England at a staggering average of 9.85. This is his second-best record against a full member team, behind only South Africa.

Since Wankhede has a small ground, Varun has performed brilliantly there in the IPL, taking 7 wickets in 7 matches at an economy rate of 6.22.


Also In News