Like setting up India right ICC T20 World Cup 2026, Varun Chakraborty offered a rare insight into the mental and tactical framework that shaped their preparations for the global event. Speaking ahead of the fifth and final T20I against South Africa, the off-spinner stressed that success at the elite level starts long before match day, with players constantly having to challenge themselves, even when the conditions seem comfortable.
Varun Chakaravarthy shares the key performances heading into the T20 World Cup 2026
They are tied with India in Group A Namibia, Netherlands, Pakistanand United States of AmericaVarun believes that preparation is as much psychological as it is technical. India are set to begin their World Cup campaign against the USA in Mumbai on February 7, and the spinner naturally feels it would be a mistake to wait for the big moments to come.
Varun explained that elite cricketers need to build intensity in training and in matches where the challenge is not obvious. Creating internal pressure, he says, sharpens decision-making and ensures preparedness when the stakes are highest. He noted that confidence comes from knowing one’s role, bowling the right length and entering the competition with a clear understanding of the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses.
One of Varu’s key takeaways heading into the tournament is the importance of opponent analysis. He believes that reading bodies, identifying patterns and adapting to different match situations can give bowlers an advantage in T20 cricket, where the edges are razor thin.
Instead of constantly reinventing his bowling, Varun emphasized the value of relying on his existing skill set. He emphasized that overthinking variations can sometimes be counterproductive, especially if rhythm and confidence are not disrupted. For him, clarity of thought remains the foundation of consistent execution.
“To prepare for the World Cup, it’s very important to keep putting pressure on yourself. You have to challenge yourself even when there’s no challenge. If the match feels easy, you have to create that pressure mentally and start challenging yourself. Confidence, bowling the right length and understanding the opponent is key. That’s one of the main factors I want going into the World Cup. By understanding the opponent better, I think. Varun said on Star Sports.
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The key to the ultimate success for Varun
Reflecting on his recent strong performances, Varun attributed his success to keeping things simple. He emphasized that sticking to basic plans and consistent lengths helped him find control and efficiency. While not every delivery will yield immediate results, he feels that patience and discipline eventually force the batsmen into mistakes.
Varun also admitted that confidence has a direct impact on skill performance. A drop in belief can affect decision-making and accuracy, while supporting someone’s ability allows a bowler to perform freely. For him, consistency at the highest level is non-negotiable and regular exposure to international cricket plays a vital role in honing that consistency.
Recalling his first international tour, Spinner admitted that the initial struggles taught him valuable lessons. These experiences brought him back to practice networks where he worked on technical corrections and mindset adjustments. Varun feels that playing against the best international batsmen sheds light on areas of improvement and helps players understand where they really stand.
“Sometimes it works and thankfully it worked well in the last three matches. I’ll try the same in the next match. It’s about mentality and skill. When you don’t have confidence, your mindset affects your ability. The main thing is to stay confident and support your skills. That’s when you perform well without changing too much. That’s the secret to playing at the highest level; the secret to being consistent at the highest level. In my first match at international level, I struggled a bit at first and I realized a few things then. I went back to practice and made adjustments. So it’s very important to keep playing at a high level.” Varun added.
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