After a victory over the team Zimbabwe, India they kept T20 World Cup 2026 the campaign is alive and breathing. The Men in Blue are now in contention for a place in the semi-finals, but their road is not easy. The upcoming collision West India is a virtual knockout – whoever wins will punch their ticket to the semi-finals.
A former India all-rounder with high errors Irfan Pathan shared his thoughts about the mysterious spinner Varun Chakraborty can raise its game and deliver a match-defining performance.
Irfan Pathan on how Varun Chakraborty can bring out his ‘A game’ in West Indies clash
Chakaravarthy’s tournament statistics reflect the consistency. He currently stands as the fifth highest wicket-taker in the competition with 11 wickets in six matches with an impressive save of 7.20. These are solid figures in a high-scoring T20 era. However, despite the encouraging numbers, the Tamil Nadu spinner hasn’t exactly looked at his intimidating best and has had performances in the last few games. The sharp bite of the pitch, the unplayable variations, and the aura of unpredictability of the once-thrilling strokes seem somewhat muted.
As India heads into the do-or-die competition, the team will be hoping to rediscover its deadliest version of its mystery weapon. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Pathan highlighted small technical tweaks that could have changed Chakravarthy’s impact on West Indies.
According to Pathan, it’s all about subtle refinements rather than major overhauls.
“Against the West Indies in Calcutta – a pitch he knows well – he can come back. A little adjustment in length, maybe closer to the stumps around the wicket for left-handers and he will come back. If he takes an early wicket, he can create serious pressure,” Pathan said.
The advice is to bowl a fuller or shorter fraction depending on the conditions and attack from tighter angles, especially against left-handers. By getting close to the stumps and working around the wicket, Chakravarthy could squeeze batters for room and force mistakes. On a Kolkata surface that traditionally offers grip and spin, these small tweaks can be crucial.
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Varu’s recent dip in form is raising questions
Chakaravarthy’s totals in the tournament still look impressive on paper, but his last two outings have been a bit of a concern. In the clash against South Africa at Ahmedabad, he leaked 47 runs and managed just one wicket at a high economy of 11.75. This trend continued in the next game against Zimbabwe where he conceded 35 runs in three overs at 8.75 per over.
These performances were in stark contrast to his strong display in the group stage, where his clever variations and tight control played a key role in providing India with timely breakthroughs.
