Indian spinner Varun Chakaravarthy recently opened up about his interactions with three of India’s biggest cricket icons — Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and MS Dhoni — during his appearance on Breakfast with Champions, hosted by Gaurav Kapur. The mystery spinner shed light on how each of these legendary players influenced his mindset and approach toward the game in unique ways.
According to Varun Chakravarthy, Rohit Sharma is a master strategist who focuses deeply on tactical aspects. “When you go to Rohit, he’s very tactical. He’ll say things like, ‘Try using the old ball; there’ll be more drift.’ He’s always thinking about fine details that can shift the momentum of a match,” Varun shared.
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When speaking about Virat Kohli, Varun’s tone turned admiring. He described Kohli as a motivator who injects a warrior-like mentality into his teammates. “Virat just motivates you to the core and brings that Spartan energy. No matter how tough the situation looks, he’ll tell you to go for the kill. He brings unmatched intensity,” he said.
On the other hand, MS Dhoni offered him advice rooted in simplicity and calmness — a hallmark of the former Indian skipper’s leadership.
“Dhoni told me, ‘Just do the basics right.’ Everyone tries to do something extraordinary under pressure, but sticking to the basics helps you pull through,” Varun Chakravarthy revealed.
The 33-year-old spinner has been an essential part of India’s T20 setup, with 40 wickets in 24 T20Is at an impressive average of 15.60, including two five-wicket hauls. He also has 10 wickets in four ODIs, featuring a five-wicket haul. Varun was part of India’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and Asia Cup T20I 2025-winning squads.
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In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Varun continues to shine for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where he has bagged 100 wickets in 84 matches at an average of 23.85. His crucial spells helped KKR clinch the IPL 2024 title, reaffirming his status as one of India’s most reliable mystery spinners.
