Ashwin Voices Concerns Over Varun Chakravarthy's Bowling Tactics After Semi-Final
Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has openly shared his critical assessment of Varun Chakravarthy's bowling performance following India's tense victory over England in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final. Ashwin emphasized that the mystery spinner's confidence significantly diminishes when batters aggressively target him early in his spell.
Chakravarthy's Costly Outing at Wankhede Stadium
India secured their place in the tournament final by defeating England by a narrow margin of seven runs in a thrilling encounter at Mumbai's iconic Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. While defending a substantial total of 253 runs, Varun Chakravarthy endured a particularly challenging match, conceding 64 runs while managing to claim just one wicket.
This expensive bowling spell equalled the joint second-most costly figures in T20 World Cup history, matching the record previously set by Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya, who recorded identical figures of 0/64 against Pakistan in Johannesburg back in 2007.
Ashwin's Detailed Technical Analysis
During his popular show 'Ash ki Baat,' Ashwin provided a nuanced breakdown of Chakravarthy's struggles. "What is happening with Varun is not that teams are attacking him or picking him. Everyone knows that Adil Rashid has a googly. Teams attacking or reading a bowler is normal—it happens to every cricketer," Ashwin explained.
He continued with specific tactical advice: "But if this happens, you have to be tactical. You cannot miss the lengths. Line and length variations with speed variations are important. Varun has to be spoken to."
Ashwin further highlighted the psychological aspect of Chakravarthy's performance, noting: "Every time he gets attacked upfront, the confidence is going down further, because he knows he is catching up. I am tired of saying this again and again. From the last few games, I am saying this. Do not bowl from round the wicket to the left-hander."
Historical Context of Expensive Bowling Figures
The most expensive bowling figures in this T20 World Cup edition were recorded earlier when United States bowler Saurabh Netravalkar returned figures of 0/65 against India. Chakravarthy's performance now places him with the joint second-most expensive bowling figures for India across all T20 international matches.
This dubious distinction puts him alongside Yuzvendra Chahal, who conceded 64 runs against South Africa in Durban during 2018. The record for most expensive Indian bowling figures in T20Is remains with Prasidh Krishna, who gave away 68 runs without taking a wicket against Australia in Guwahati in 2023.
Looking Ahead to the Tournament Final
India will now face New Zealand in the championship match scheduled for Sunday, March 8, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. This encounter marks a significant rematch, as both teams previously contested the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Their meeting in another ICC tournament final occurs nearly one year later, adding substantial historical context to the upcoming showdown.
The Indian team management will undoubtedly be analyzing Chakravarthy's recent performances and considering Ashwin's insights as they prepare their bowling strategy for the crucial final against the Black Caps.
