Krishnamachari Srikkanth didn’t mince his words when he claimed Glenn Maxwell “shakes in his boots” every time Varun Chakravarthy comes on to bowl. The former India opener praised Chakravarthy’s growing dominance over the Australian power-hitter, a rivalry that added another chapter during the fourth T20I on Thursday.

Varun Chakravarthy finished with just one wicket at the Carrara Oval, but it was the moment that sealed India’s 48-run win and a 2-1 lead in the series. Glenn Maxwell, returning from an injury break, tried to free up space for a big hit but was completely undone by Chakravarthy’s trademark deception, losing his stumps in an awkward attempt to take control.

Srikkanth’s cheeky remark came right after the dismissal as he highlighted the one-sided nature of the matchup. “Maxwell shakes in his boots whenever Varun Chakravarthy comes on to bowl. Varun picks up certain batters like a rabbit. Especially when he sees Glenn Maxwell, he gobbles him up like a piece of cake,” he said on his YouTube channel.

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And the numbers support the banter. Across T20Is, Varun Chakravarthy has bowled 33 balls to Glenn Maxwell. While the Australian has struck 50 runs at a healthy strike rate above 150, Chakravarthy has removed him five times, making their face-off one of the most intriguing modern-day mini-battles.

Varun Chakravarthy now has five wickets in the series, with only Nathan Ellis ahead of him across both teams. On surfaces offering grip and turn, he’s been India’s biggest threat, and he’ll aim to extend that in the fifth and final T20I in Brisbane.

India’s spin trio of Chakravarthy, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar has stepped up impressively in Kuldeep Yadav’s absence. Alongside them, Shivam Dube and Sundar have chipped in with crucial all-round performances.

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Australia’s continued struggle against quality spin was evident again in the fourth T20I, where Varun Chakravarthy, Axar and Sundar combined for six wickets in less than 10 overs, tightening India’s grip on the series.