In a fascinating revelation, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) assistant coach Abhishek Nayar disclosed that spinner Varun Chakravarthy was advised to enhance his batting and fielding to cement his place in the Indian team.
While Nayar didn’t specify when Chakravarthy received this feedback, the spinner last played for India during the 2021 T20 World Cup. In that tournament, he bowled 11 wicketless overs at an economy rate of 6.45 across three games. After India’s early exit from the group stage, Chakravarthy was overlooked for subsequent selections, despite consistently being one of the top Indian spinners in the IPL over the next three years.
“Varun Chakravarthy performs every year in the Vijay Hazare [Trophy], everywhere,” Nayar shared on The Ranveer Show Podcast. “But I remember selectors told him, ‘You should improve your batting, you’ll be able to make the cut; Improve your fielding and you’ll be able to make the cut.’ That was the mindset. So he scored a few runs in the Vijay Hazare this time and sent me a video [saying,] ‘I hit two sixes, scored 40 runs.'”
Nayar continued, “Players automatically start thinking like that because they know it’s a requirement. He has also improved his fielding. So, there are things that players work on because they know it’s a requirement that you have to do all three things; you can’t survive with just one thing.”
Since IPL 2023, Varun Chakravarthy has picked up 41 wickets — the highest for any bowler in this period — at an average of 20.26. In 2024, he was KKR’s highest wicket-taker and played a pivotal role in their title triumph.
India’s Spin Conundrum: Batting Skills in Focus
Chakravarthy’s exclusion due to his batting ability raises eyebrows, especially considering that only Kuldeep Yadav, among Indian spinners, has matched his wicket-taking prowess while also being a competent batsman. Yuzvendra Chahal, a member of the T20 World Cup squad, isn’t renowned for his batting skills, and neither is Ravi Bishnoi, who was India’s preferred wrist-spinner before IPL 2024.
Chakravarthy’s case highlights a broader challenge for the Indian team: balancing specialist bowlers with all-round capabilities. As the selection criteria evolve, players are increasingly aware of the need to be multi-faceted to stay relevant at the highest level.
In summary, Varun Chakravarthy’s journey underscores the growing emphasis on versatility in modern cricket, pushing players to excel in all aspects of the game to secure their spots in the national team.
