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Varun Chakravarthy returned to the national squad as BCCI announced the 15-member Indian squad for the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh on Saturday (September 28). The games will be played from October 6 to 12 at Gwalior, New Delhi and Hyderabad, respectively.
Chakravarthy earned a comeback into the national team after three years. He last represented the Men in Blue in the 2021 T20 World Cup, where he went wicketless in three appearances.
His comeback is primarily due to the 33-year-old playing a key role in Kolkata Knight Riders' title victory in IPL 2024. He secured 21 dismissals in 15 games and was second among the list of highest wicket-takers.
Notably, Chakravarthy expressed his frustration on social media after being ignored for the T20I series against Zimbabwe in July. However, the Bangladesh series will be a big chance for him to prove his worth and cement a place in the T20I side.
On that note, let's take a look at how the selection of Chakravarthy can bear fruit for the Indian team.
#1 Helps India to shortlist top contender for a spinner slot ahead of 2026 T20 World Cup
Along with Varun Chakravarthy, the other two spin options in the team's roster for the Bangladesh series are Washington Sundar and Ravi Bishnoi. This series will certainly help the Suryakumar Yadav-led side find a top contender for the spinners' slot.
Moreover, veterans like Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel, who were part of the Indian team in the T20 World Cup, are also potential contenders for the slot. Nevertheless, with the squad selections for the Sri Lanka and Bangladesh series, they are unlikely to be in the scheme of things for now.
If Chakravarthy manages to find a place in the XI, and help India put brakes on the runs and secure breakthroughs, he may get a longer rope on the Indian side. The same is true for the likes of Bishnoi and Sundar as well.
More importantly, the 2026 T20 World Cup is set to be played in Sri Lanka and India, which puts emphasis on the right selection of spinners for the tournament. This series will kickstart the preparation of probable bowlers, who could be part of the spin department in the showpiece event.
#2 Varun Chakravarthy has kept his mystery intact
Varun Chakravarthy made waves in IPL 2020 with his wicket-taking acumen and mystery behind his bowling style. Since then, the batters haven't been able to solve his mystery.
Chakravarthy has numerous variations, including leg spin, carrom ball, googly and sliders among others. His variations, coupled with optimum pace, don't give enough time to the batters to play their shots.
For instance, since the IPL 2023, the talented tweaker began using upright seam for his leg-breaks by giving more revs on the ball. As a result, he has found more purchase from the surface and created doubt among the batters' minds.
Moreover, the 33-year-old reads the match situation better than many other spinners. It helps him decide whether googly or leg-break would be favorable for him against a particular batter. With variations, intelligence and experience, Varun Chakravarthy could be a potent weapon for the Indian T20I team.
#3 Consistent form in IPL
Varun Chakravarthy has been exceptional in the last few IPL seasons. After a lacklustre show in the 2022 season, Chakravarthy bounced back with a terrific performance in the following season, picking up 20 wickets in 14 games.
In IPL 2024, Chakravarthy was sensational to put the batters under pressure with his skills, and finished with 21 wickets in 15 games. His efforts led the Kolkata Knight Riders to the playoffs and eventually helped them win the title.
The right-arm spinner has been equally good in domestic cricket as well. He finished as the second-highest wicket-taker in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2023/24 with 19 wickets in eight innings. In the recently concluded TNPL 2024, he picked up 12 wickets to help the Dindigul Dragons lift the title.
Hence, it is certainly the right time to call Varun Chakravarthy back into the national team, given his track record and current form.
