India’s mysterious spinner Varun Chakraborty Have endured a challenging period currently ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026His performance drew intense scrutiny from fans and experts alike. After being one of the most talked about bowlers in the tournament, the spinner has struggled to maintain his control and deception in recent matches. After the high-pressure semi-final match against India Englandexperienced spinner Ravichandran Ashwin Varun shared his thoughts on what he needs to do to gain confidence and regain his bowling rhythm.
Varun Chakraborty’s decline in form raises concerns
Varun entered the global event with huge expectations as the world No. 1 ranked T20 bowler. However, his performance declined during the latter half of the competition. His struggles were most evident during the semi-final against England, where he faced difficult conditions.
The spinner gave 64 runs to the England batsman in his four over spell. jacob bethel Tore him apart in a brutal attack. Bethel scored 42 runs off just 13 balls from Varun, exposing some tactical flaws in the spinner’s approach.
Analysts believe that one of the major issues is the speed with which Varun is bowling. By bowling fast into the air, he has inadvertently reduced the effectiveness of his variations, allowing batsmen to choose his balls earlier.
Opposition parties are also included South Africa, New Zealand And England has adopted a clear strategy against him. Batsmen are setting their front foot early and hitting it straight into the ground – a method widely described as a “step-hit”. This aggressive approach has allowed teams to dominate their overs, especially during the Super 8 stage of the tournament.
increased pressure and loss of rhythm
Another factor contributing to Varun’s struggles is the psychological pressure of expectations. Labeled as the leading spinner of the tournament, he was in the headlines right from the start.
Once he started giving away runs, the pressure started affecting his bowling rhythm. Instead of sticking to his usual stump-to-stump line, Varun started experimenting with wider deliveries or balls that drifted towards the pads. This deviation from his powers has significantly harmed his effectiveness.
Since the Super 8 stage, his economy rate has risen sharply to 11.62 – a worrying figure for a bowler known for his control in the shortest format.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s important advice for struggling spinners
Former India off-spinner Ashwin believes that Varun’s condition is not unusual and can be rectified with awareness and tactical adjustments. According to Ashwin, learning to adapt to tough times is one of the most important lessons for any spinner.
Ashwin pointed out that bowlers need to understand when to slow down the game and rethink their approach instead of rushing through the overs.
“I used to throw a lot of balls fast. But if I felt I needed to stop, I would take it. It’s about awareness. The hardest thing is to adapt and react to difficult situations. Not every day will be good and there will be bad days.” Ashwin said.
He said that Varun is facing a new challenge in his career at this time and the interaction of teammates, coaches and support staff around him will play a vital role in helping him recover. Ashwin also stressed that Varun must now evolve beyond relying solely on his mystery factor.
“Till now, he has trusted people rather than picking them. From now on, he will have to rely on the better aspects of spin bowling. It is a challenge and a journey.” He added.
Will India replace Varun in the final?
With India preparing for the T20 World Cup 2026 final, discussions have emerged as to whether -Kuldeep Yadav Varun may be replaced in the playing eleven, however, Ashwin believes that despite the debate, such a change is unlikely.
“Can Kuldeep come for Varun? I think he will think about it, but it won’t happen. He may think about it a lot. But I hope it won’t happen, and I don’t think so either,” Ashwin concluded.
As India prepares for the biggest match of the tournament, all eyes will be on whether Varun can bounce back and perform well when it matters most.
See also: T20 World Cup 2026 – Axar Patel takes stunning catch to dismiss Harry Brook in IND vs ENG semi-final
