Former Team India captain and selector Kris Srikkanth said that despite consistently performing well, spinner Varun Chakravarthy does not get the attention he deserves. The cricketer turned commentator said batsmen have struggled to understand the Tamil Nadu spinner in T20 cricket for over a year.
Varun played a key role in India’s 17-run win over Netherlands in the T20 World Cup 2026 in Ahmedabad. The 34-year-old player took three wickets for 14 runs in three overs. He dismissed Max O’Dowd in his opening over and dismissed Colin Ackerman and Aryan Dutt in consecutive balls in the 13th over.
Varun Chakraborty should have been celebrated more – Kris Srikkanth
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kris Srikkanth said that Varun Chakraborty does his work quietly and yet he does not get the credit he deserves. He said that if this spinner plays for Mumbai, his name will be more famous.
Srikkanth said, “Had he been from Mumbai, he would have been celebrated even more. Mumbai media is such a thing, where if someone performs well, they celebrate it fiercely. Here, Varun just comes and bowls quietly. Nobody promotes him and talks about him. People have not decoded him at all. For a spinner, he has a long run-up and he bowls effortlessly.”
Varun should be a man of the match contender – Kris Srikkanth
Srikkanth also raised questions on the discussion of Man of the Match in India’s recent match. He said that Shivam Dubey played a good innings, but also said that Varun’s spell of 3/14, which also included key top-order wickets, should have put him in strong contention for the award.
Srikkanth further said, “Nobody gives much credit to Varun Chakravarthy. Bumrah is brilliant. You will not find a bowler like Bumrah. But Varun Chakravarthy does not get credit.”
“Although Dubey played a wonderful innings, why couldn’t he have been a Man of the Match contender? Nobody thought about it. Dubey only deserved the award, but as a bowler, 3/14 with all the top-order wickets, Varun should have been a Man of the Match contender. They rarely give awards to bowlers.”
He is a great player of the modern era in the T20 format – Chris Srikkanth on Varun Chakravarthy
Kris Srikkanth feels Varun Chakravarthy should be in the running for Player of the Tournament. The spinner has excelled in the group stage, taking nine wickets at an average of less than seven and an economy rate of 5.16.
Srikkanth described Varun as a modern great player of T20 cricket, who is difficult to attack or defend. He said that Varun’s impact is similar to that of Jasprit Bumrah a few years ago.
“He is the leader for Player of the Tournament. Even if he gets a hit, he gives a maximum of 35 runs. And even then he takes a wicket or two. But no one gives him his real due,” Srikkanth said.
He said, “He is a modern-day great in the T20 format and deserves to be celebrated like no one else. Nobody can play against him or even defend him. He is the same as he was a few years ago. Bumrah is not at his peak now, although he made a comeback in this match.”
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