Gambhir brings a Spartan mentality to the team: Varun

Varun's mystery spin is earning him accolades but the support of captain, coach has been vital

- Sanjjeev K Samyal

MUMBAI: Ever since making a comeback with a performance of 3/31 against Bangladesh in October 2024, spinner Varun Chakravarthy has not taken a backward step. In 24 T20Is, he has now taken his tally to 40 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 6.90.

The mystery spinner has gone from strength to strength in his last three tournaments to emerge as a potent spin weapon for India in T20 internationals, forming a deadly partnership with Kuldeep Yadav. In four games in South Africa he finished with a 12-wicket haul including a spell of 5/14; in five games versus England he returned with 14 scalps in 5 games including a spell of 5/24. In the recently held Asia Cup, he claimed seven wickets in six games at an economy rate of 6.50.

In the final played last Sunday, he turned the match around by claiming the wickets of both the well-set Pakistan openers, Sahibzada Farhan who scored 57 runs (38 balls) and Fakhar Zaman who made 46 (35 balls) for figures of 2/30 in four overs. From 84/0, Pakistan collapsed to 146 all out with India's spinners sharing eight of the 10 wickets.

It is clear to all oppositions what they will be up against in the 2026 T20 World Cup to be co-hosted in India and Sri Lanka as the Suryakumar Yadav-led side will look to build on their spin strength led by the pair of Kuldeep and Chakravarthy.

The conditions in the subcontinent during the World Cup will be similar to the Dubai International Stadium where India played most of their Asia Cup matches - slow pitches aiding spin.