India’s mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has endured a challenging phase in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with his performances drawing intense scrutiny from fans and experts alike. After being one of the most talked-about bowlers heading into the tournament, the spinner has struggled to maintain his control and deception in recent matches. Following India’s high-pressure semi-final clash against England, veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin shared his thoughts on what Varun needs to do to regain confidence and rediscover his bowling rhythm.
Varun Chakaravarthy’s dip in form raises concerns
Varun entered the global event as the world’s No.1 ranked T20 bowler, carrying enormous expectations. However, his performances have taken a downturn during the latter half of the competition. His struggles became most evident during the semi-final against England, where he endured a difficult outing.
The spinner conceded 64 runs in his four-over spell, with England batter Jacob Bethell taking him apart in a brutal assault. Bethell smashed 42 runs off just 13 deliveries from Varun, exposing some tactical flaws in the spinner’s approach.
Analysts believe one of the major issues has been the pace at which Varun is delivering the ball. By bowling quicker through the air, he has unintentionally reduced the effectiveness of his variations, allowing batters to pick his deliveries earlier.
Opposition teams, including South Africa, New Zealand and England, have adopted a clear tactic against him. Batters are planting their front foot early and hitting him straight down the ground — a method widely described as the “step-hit.” This aggressive approach has allowed teams to dominate his overs, especially during the Super 8 stage of the tournament.
Rising pressure and a loss of rhythm
Another factor contributing to Varun’s struggles is the psychological pressure of expectations. Being labelled as the tournament’s leading spinner placed him under the spotlight from the very beginning.
Once he started leaking runs, the pressure appeared to affect his bowling rhythm. Instead of sticking to his usual stump-to-stump line, Varun began experimenting with wider deliveries or balls drifting towards the pads. This deviation from his strengths has significantly hurt his effectiveness.
Since the Super 8 stage, his economy rate has climbed sharply to 11.62 — a worrying figure for a bowler known for his control in the shortest format.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s key advice for the struggling spinner
Former India off-spinner Ashwin believes Varun’s situation is not unusual and can be corrected with awareness and tactical adjustments. According to Ashwin, learning to adapt during tough phases is one of the most important lessons for any spinner.
Ashwin explained that bowlers need to understand when to slow the game down and rethink their approach rather than rushing through overs.
“I used to bowl a lot of deliveries quickly. But if I felt I needed a pause, I would take it. This is about awareness. The toughest thing is adapting and responding to tough situations. Every day will not be good, and bad days will keep coming,” Ashwin said.
He added that Varun is currently experiencing a new challenge in his career and that the conversations around him — from teammates, coaches and support staff — will play a crucial role in helping him recover. Ashwin also emphasised that Varun must now evolve beyond relying solely on his mystery factor.
“Till now, he has relied on people not picking him. From now on, he has to rely on the finer aspects of spin bowling. This is a challenge and a journey,” he added.
Will India replace Varun in the final?
With India preparing for the T20 World Cup 2026 final, discussions have emerged about whether Kuldeep Yadav could replace Varun in the playing XI. However, Ashwin believes such a change is unlikely despite the debate.
“Can Kuldeep come in for Varun? I think they will think about it, but it won’t happen. They might think a lot about this. But I hope it does not happen, and I don’t think so too,” Ashwin concluded.
As India gear up for the tournament’s biggest match, all eyes will be on whether Varun can bounce back and deliver when it matters the most.
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