Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batsman Subramaniam Badrinath has chosen a surprising name as the No. 1 T20I bowler for the India national cricket team.
While naming his picks, Subramaniam Badrinath surprisingly ignored India national cricket team fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, the leading T20I wicket-taker for the Men in Blue.
Even he is more valuable than Jasprit Bumrah-Subramaniam Badrinath
Speaking on Star Sports after the conclusion of the five-match T20I series between India and Australia, Badrinath said that Varun Chakravarthy is a more valuable asset to Team India than Jasprit Bumrah in T20I cricket and is the No. 1 bowler.
The former CSK player was full of praise for the legendary spinner and said that he is very versatile and can bowl at any stage of the match. He said:
“The statistics tell us that Varun Chakravarthy is the No. 1 T20 bowler in the world. He is even more valuable than Bumrah. Whenever runs are going up in the powerplay or the middle overs or even in the 18th over, Varun is the go-to bowler.”
“He has gone to a different level with his game. After initially being given a chance and being sidelined due to fitness issues, he made a great comeback. But in this second phase of his comeback, he has taken his game to the next level.”
He is a great asset to India, in fact a weapon – Subramaniam Badrinath
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka, and the pitches offered are expected to be spin-friendly.
Meanwhile, Subramaniam Badrinath feels Varun Chakravarthy will be the key weapon for India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and the team’s success will largely depend on how he performs in the competition.
Badrinath said, “He is a big asset for India but also a weapon. Going forward, with the T20 World Cup in India, he will be the most important factor. If Varun has a good day, there is a high possibility that the Indian team will also have a good day.”
Varun Chakravarthy is currently ranked No. 1 in the ICC T20I rankings
34-year-old Varun Chakravarthy is Team India’s first-choice spinner in T20I cricket, and since his return to the Indian setup, he has received a lot of support from the Gautam Gambhir-led team management.
Varun Chakravarthy has been given consistent opportunities, and he has repaid the faith of the team management with excellent bowling performances.
He is currently ranked No. 1 in the ICC Men’s T20I Bowling Rankings. Overall, he has played 29 T20I matches for India and has taken 45 wickets at an average of 15.68, economy of 6.88 and strike rate of 13.6.
Varun Chakravarthy will next be seen in action in the home T20I series against the South Africa national cricket team and will look to continue his excellent form.
Also read: 8 consecutive sixes, half century in 11 balls! Meghalaya’s Akash Kumar Chaudhary shines, makes world record in Ranji Trophy
