Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has raised concerns about the recent dip in form of India’s mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy ahead of the team’s crucial clash against the West Indies at Eden Gardens on March 1. With the match shaping up as a virtual knockout for India, the spinner’s rhythm with the ball could play a decisive role.

Chakravarthy enjoyed a sensational start to the tournament, emerging as one of India’s biggest weapons in the group stage. The mystery spinner claimed nine wickets in his first four matches, including two impressive three-wicket hauls that helped India dominate opposition batting line-ups. However, his momentum slowed in the last two games.

Against South Africa, he had an unusually expensive outing, finishing with figures of 1 for 47. The struggles continued in the next match against the Zimbabwe national cricket team in Chennai, where he managed just one wicket while conceding 35 runs in India’s comfortable 72-run victory.

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Pathan believes these back-to-back underwhelming performances could be a warning sign before such an important encounter. While analysing the spinner’s recent spells on his YouTube channel, the former all-rounder pointed out a noticeable shift in Chakravarthy’s bowling lengths. According to Pathan, the spinner has been bowling far too short, particularly to right-handed batters, allowing opponents to score more freely.

“The concern remains Varun Chakravarthy. About 63% of his deliveries were too short. He usually bowls a shorter length compared to traditional spinners, but not this short. In the last two matches, he has bowled fuller to left-handers but too short to right-handers. If this is a conscious tactical shift, it could complicate things,” Irfan Pathan explained.

Despite the recent dip, Pathan remains confident that Chakravarthy can quickly bounce back, especially at Eden Gardens — a venue he knows extremely well as a key spinner for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League.

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“Against West Indies in Kolkata — a pitch he knows well — he can bounce back. Just a slight adjustment in length, maybe come closer to the stumps around the wicket to left-handers, and he’ll be back. If he picks up an early wicket, he can create serious pressure,” Irfan Pathan added.

Despite the minor slump, Chakravarthy still ranks among the tournament’s top performers. The spinner currently ranks fifth among wicket-takers with 11 wickets from six matches, maintaining a respectable economy rate of 7.20.