after a spectacular victory over zimbabwe, India I have kept it as my own t20 world cup 2026 The campaign is alive and breathing. The Men in Blue are now firmly in the race for a place in the semi-finals, but their path will not be easy. upcoming struggle against west indies It’s a virtual knockout – whoever wins will punch their ticket to the semi-finals.
Bets are on the sky, former all-rounder player of India Irfan Pathan Has shared his insight on how mystery spinners are Varun Chakraborty Can raise your game and deliver match-defining performances.
Irfan Pathan explains how Varun Chakravarthy can showcase his ‘A game’ in the clash against West Indies
Chakraborty’s tournament statistics reflect consistency. He is currently the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the competition with 11 wickets in six matches at an impressive economy rate of 7.20. These are solid numbers in the high-scoring T20 era. However, despite the encouraging statistics, the Tamil Nadu spinner has not been at his best and has looked poor in recent games. The sharp hitting of the pitch, the playable variations and the aura of unpredictability that once unsettled batsmen seems to be a bit lacking.
With India heading into a do-or-die encounter, the team will be hoping that their mystery weapon finds its most lethal form yet again. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Pathan highlighted small technical adjustments that could change Chakravarthy’s impact against West Indies.
According to Pathan, it is all about subtle refinements rather than major changes.
“Against the West Indies in Kolkata – a pitch he knows well – he may make a comeback. Just a little adjustment in length, maybe come closer to the stumps around the wicket for left-handed batsmen, and he will be back. If he takes wickets early, he can create serious pressure,” Pathan said.
The advice focuses on bowling slightly fuller or shorter depending on the conditions and attacking from tighter angles, especially against left-handed batsmen. By coming close to the stumps and running around the wicket, Chakravarthy could force the batsmen to make room and make mistakes. On a Kolkata surface that traditionally offers grip and turn, these minor changes could prove decisive.
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Varun’s recent decline in form raises questions
Chakraborty’s overall figures in the tournament still look impressive on paper, but his last two innings have raised a bit of concern. In the clash against South Africa in Ahmedabad, he conceded 47 runs at a brisk economy rate of 11.75, taking just one wicket. This trend continued in the next game against Zimbabwe, where he gave away 35 runs in three overs at a rate of 8.75 per over.
These performances were in stark contrast to his strong performances in the group stage, where his clever variations and tight control were instrumental in India leading to timely breakthroughs.
