How Varun Chakravarthy is Leading India’s T20 Evolution

“Sometimes when he talks, you might think he’s being foolish,” says Varun Chakravarthy’s mentor, AC Pratheepan, in an interview. “Foolish because no one else thinks like him. He plans every ball meticulously. If you ask him, he can list out how he plans to bowl each of the 24 balls in his spell. Of course, this can change based on the batsman, but he has it all sequenced. He knows exactly which delivery to bowl and, more importantly, at what length,” Pratheepan adds.

This description encapsulates Varun’s evolution and highlights why he’s become central to India’s T20 cricket revolution. India 2.0 is impossible without Varun 2.0.

On January 1, reflecting on his stellar year, Varun shared AR Rahman’s “Chinna Chinna Aasai” (Choti si aasha song) on his Instagram, ending with the optimistic lines: “Nalla irupom!! Nalla irupom!! Ellarum nalla irupom!! (We will be fine! We will be fine!! All of us will be fine!!).”

Varun 2.0 represents a dramatic shift from his past, from a tennis ball cricketer to a professional spinner. Once known for his reliance on the carrom ball, he’s largely abandoned it now. Where he once leaned heavily on side-spin, he has transitioned to over-spin, allowing him to generate more turn and bounce—two elements that test even the most aggressive batsmen.

A key factor in his transformation is the meticulous plotting and sequencing of his deliveries, which his coach has observed in his current game. After the Vijay Hazare Trophy, before joining the Indian team for the England series, Varun had a session with Pratheepan. It was their first meeting since Varun’s return to the national team, following strong performances in domestic cricket and the IPL. Pratheepan noticed a marked difference in his attitude. “He came just to ensure the basics—run-up speed, loading, and release—were in place. He didn’t change anything else,” Pratheepan recalled. “What struck me was that six months ago, he was anxious about his performance with the Indian team. But now, that fear is gone. He’s more confident, and more importantly, he feels he belongs.”

This newfound confidence comes after the technical changes Varun has made to his bowling, changes that have resulted in more wickets and proved the value of adapting and evolving. One of the most significant changes, however, was in his mindset.

The focus, Pratheepan explained, is on ensuring that the run-up, alignment, and release are correct, regardless of what happens at the other end. “If a batsman hits a good ball for a boundary, so be it. You can’t adjust your approach based on what he does,” he said. A prime example came when Jos Buttler hit Varun for a six. Initially, Pratheepan thought Varun had bowled short, but replays showed that Buttler had manufactured the shot. The very next delivery, Varun cramped him for room, and Buttler was dismissed. Had Varun reacted to Buttler’s shot, he might have gone for more runs.

Training now involves “spot bowling,” where Varun focuses on hitting a consistent length, allowing the line to follow naturally. “Once the length is right, the line falls into place,” Pratheepan said. “These changes give him more options to take wickets. The ball spins more, he extracts more bounce, and he’s always attacking the stumps. He’s always in the game.”

To maintain his mystery while using the carrom ball less, Varun has also become more creative with his trajectory and release points. This has led to batsmen expecting one kind of spin, only to be deceived by deliveries that straighten instead. Liam Livingstone experienced this firsthand, attempting to steer a ball to the offside, only to have it sneak through the bat-and-pad gap.

“It’s all about creating an illusion,” Pratheepan said. “When Varun bowls from wide off the stumps or close, batsmen expect a certain angle of spin. But when it doesn’t turn or only turns slightly, he can beat them by simply straightening the ball.”

Next up for Varun is his first international match at Chepauk, his home ground, on Saturday. Last IPL, while playing for Kolkata Knight Riders, Varun’s family came to watch him play against Chennai Super Kings, wearing the team’s yellow jerseys. This time, they’ll likely be in blue, supporting Varun as he takes the field for India.