Former India pacer Irfan Pathan believes mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy could be an X-factor for Team India in the upcoming T20 World Cup. He stated that the mystery element in his bowling is likely to be the same there as well.
Notably, Chakravarthy has been added to India’s 15-member squad for the global event that will take place after IPL 2021. And, he has already shown a lot of proof of his credentials as well. Recently, he registered the figures of 3/13 and helped Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Monday (September 20).
During a discussion on Star Sports, Pathan expressed that Varun Chakravarthy will be the surprise element in India’s bowling attack. He explained: “He can be a huge X-factor. You have not played him in international cricket, you have definitely played him in the IPL but the dynamics are slightly different in the IPL. When you play him in the World Cup after playing him in the IPL, it will still be different, the World Cup pressure will be different and the mystery will remain.”
READ HERE: Aakash Chopra opens up on New Zealand’s T20 World Cup squad
Irfan Pathan continued: “If you remember the 2011 World Cup, Zaheer Khan started using the knuckle ball in the World Cup and not before that. That was a surprise delivery. So, the surprise factor is definitely beneficial when you play a new thing or bowler. Something similar can happen for Varun Chakravarthy.”
Varun Chakravarthy has so far played for India in just three T20Is. While he could manage only a couple of wickets, he was extremely economical and that worked for him as well. And, Aakash Chopra said that the skiddy nature of the UAE pitches will help Varun Chakravarthy.
READ HERE: Shaun Tait explains why speedsters struggle to bowl 150+kmph
He observed: “The pitches currently in the UAE are helpful for him because the ball is skidding after pitching and you are getting less time. If you don’t read from the hand, you try to get a clue off the pitch, which you are not going to get here. His performance in the UAE was outstanding last time as well because of which his name came in the Indian team. The same Varun Chakravarthy was a slightly easier bowler to play when you were playing in India because that much fizz was not there after pitching. So, he is a four-over bowler and is a wicket-taking option in the middle overs.”
