• Source:PTI
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Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy has likened Gautam Gambhir to Spartan and said the India head coach has instilled in the team a mentality that leaves no room for mediocrity and where losing is not an option.

Chakravarthy, who has worked with Gambhir at Kolkata Knight Riders, on Tuesday spoke about the former India opener's approach when it comes to coaching the national side.

"I have already worked with him in the IPL and we won that (in 2024), so (there is) nothing new to me because I have already been around him," Chakravarthy told reporters on the sidelines of the CEAT Cricket Rating awards here.

"But definitely one thing which I can say about him is he brings a Spartan mentality to the team where there is no option of losing, you just have to bring out your best and give everything on the ground and later on, whatever happens, happens."

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"When he is around, there is no mediocrity, you can't be mediocre in the field, that's what I feel," he added.

Chakravarthy said being labelled a "mystery spinner" is a term coined by the media, and he does not think of himself as one.

"I have never called myself a mystery bowler. It's the media that has termed me (a mystery spinner). But, whatever it is, if you want to call me a mystery (spinner), it's fine," he said.

"But it's just that I have the ability to bowl all the deliveries with the same grip and same release point. That's what is making others find it tough to pick me," Chakravarthy said.

The 34-year-old Chakravarthy revealed he has been asked by Gambhir to improve his batting in terms of pushing his case for ODI selection.

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"Basically, the conversations have been around bowling longer spells because in T20Is, you can bowl a maximum of two overs back-to-back. But in ODIs, you have to bowl five to six overs back to back, which I did work on, and I was able to do it in the Champions Trophy," Chakravarthy said.

"Definitely, he wants me to bat a little more up the order in the domestic circuit and improve on my batting," he added.