Former Indian captain and ex-BCCI selector Kris Srikkanth has stirred a big debate after claiming that Varun Chakravarthy’s international career could be nearing its end. According to Srikkanth, the mystery that once made Varun a dangerous spinner is no longer effective against modern batters.
Varun Chakravarthy has been a key wicket-taking bowler for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL and has also represented India in recent years. However, Srikkanth believes that without adding more variations to his bowling, the spinner may struggle to remain effective at the highest level.
Srikkanth Says “Your Mystery Has Become History”
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kris Srikkanth openly criticised Varun Chakravarthy’s bowling style. He said that relying only on googlies is not enough in modern T20 cricket.
Srikkanth explained that a spinner must be able to turn the ball both ways and create doubt in the batter’s mind. Without proper leg-spin and variations, top batters can easily read the bowler.
He said Varun must start bowling more traditional leg-spin deliveries instead of depending mostly on googlies. According to him, batters are no longer confused by Varun’s style.
Srikkanth’s key message was clear: if Varun does not develop more variety in his bowling, it will become difficult for him to maintain a place in the international team.
Varun Chakravarthy’s Mixed ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Performance
Varun Chakravarthy had a mixed campaign in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. He started the tournament strongly and picked up several wickets during the group stage.
However, his form dropped in the later matches of the competition. Batters started attacking him more confidently and scoring runs at a higher rate.
Varun Chakravarthy – Last Five Matches in T20 World Cup 2026
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Economy Rate | Nearly 12 runs per over |
| Bowling Average | Around 45 |
| Tournament Standing | Leading wicket-taker during group stage |
These numbers show that while Varun had success earlier in the tournament, his impact reduced in the final phase of the competition.
Rohit Sharma’s Explosive Powerplay Against KKR
Srikkanth also discussed Rohit Sharma’s strong IPL performance against Kolkata Knight Riders.
Rohit produced a match-winning innings of 78 runs and reached his half-century during the powerplay itself. His aggressive approach put immediate pressure on the KKR bowling attack.
During the powerplay, Rohit targeted Varun Chakravarthy and scored heavily in one of his overs.
Srikkanth pointed out that Varun should ideally not be used in the powerplay. According to him, spinners like Varun are more effective in the middle overs when the field is spread and batters are less aggressive.
He also repeated that Varun must bowl leg-spin and turn the ball away from batters to create fear and uncertainty.
Also See : Why Suryakumar Yadav Played as Impact Sub in MI vs KKR IPL 2026 Match
Mumbai Indians End 13-Year IPL Opening Match Drought
Mumbai Indians achieved a special milestone in IPL 2026 by winning their opening match of the season.
They defeated Kolkata Knight Riders at Wankhede Stadium and finally ended a long streak of losing their season openers. The last time MI had won their first match of an IPL season was in 2012.
Mumbai Indians Season Opener Record
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opponent | Kolkata Knight Riders |
| Venue | Wankhede Stadium |
| Result | Mumbai Indians won |
| Last Opening Match Win Before This | IPL 2012 |
| Gap Broken | 13 seasons |
Rohit Sharma’s attacking batting played a major role in this victory. His powerplay hitting helped Mumbai Indians chase the target comfortably and start the tournament with confidence.
The debate around Varun Chakravarthy’s bowling has become an important storyline early in the IPL season.
While Srikkanth believes that the mystery spinner must reinvent his bowling style, Varun still has the ability and experience to bounce back. If he can add more variations and improve his control, he could once again become a dangerous bowler.
The coming matches in IPL 2026 will show whether Varun can respond to the criticism and prove his effectiveness against top batters.
