Kris Srikkanth Labels Varun Chakravarthy India’s MVP Over Jasprit Bumrah in T20 World Cup 2026

Former India captain and chief selector Kris Srikkanth has identified spinner Varun Chakravarthy as the Indian cricket team’s most potent bowling asset in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026, positioning him above pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah regarding current impact. Following a string of dominant performances, Srikkanth argues that the mystery spinner’s technical variations have rendered him nearly unplayable on global stages.

India is currently progressing through the tournament with a strong bowling attack, but the statistical comparison between the two bowlers supports Srikkanth’s bold assertion. In the 21 matches where both Varun and Bumrah have featured in the playing XI, the spinner has outperformed the pacer significantly in wicket-taking.

Statistical Breakdown: Varun vs. Bumrah

Varun Chakravarthy has claimed nine wickets in four matches during the current tournament, maintaining an average of 6.88 and an economy rate of 5.16. His performance peaked against the Netherlands, where he returned figures of 3/14 from three overs.

Srikkanth highlighted a direct statistical comparison to validate his claim regarding their simultaneous impact:

For official tournament statistics and player rankings, visit the International Cricket Council (ICC) website.

Technical Analysis: Why Batters Are Struggling

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth dissected the technical nuances making Varun difficult to read. Unlike traditional spin, Varun’s lethality stems from subtle variations in speed and trajectory rather than massive turn.

• Pitch Map Consistency: Deliveries are consistently grouped around off-stump and middle-stump.
• Deceptive Lengths: Wickets primarily come from good length or just short of good length, avoiding full deliveries that are easier to drive.
• Speed Variations: He alternates between sharply incoming googlies and faster deliveries without a discernible change in arm speed.

“People don’t know what he’s bowling. Is it a googly? Is it the straight one? Is it slower? Is it quicker? No one knows,” Srikkanth stated. “Suddenly he bowls one faster. Then he changes speed again. Multiple speeds. Long run-up, relaxed action—but incredibly deceptive.”

The Recognition Gap

Despite his numbers, Srikkanth believes the Kolkata Knight Riders spinner lacks the accolades typically reserved for premier fast bowlers. He pointed to the recent match against the Netherlands, where Shivam Dube was named Player of the Match.

“If you look at Varun’s figures—three wickets for very few runs, all top-order wickets—why wasn’t he even considered a contender for Man of the Match?” Srikkanth questioned. “He’s casually delivering match-winning performances. But he’s not celebrated enough.”

Srikkanth further categorized Varun as a “modern-day great,” drawing parallels to Bumrah’s peak dominance in T20 Internationals several years ago. “That’s exactly what Bumrah used to be a couple of years ago. Bumrah is still doing brilliantly, but batters don’t know whether to defend or attack Varun.”

Recent Form Guide (2024-2026)

Since returning to the international setup, Varun has maintained a high strike rate. His recent record underscores his consistency:

• 2024-2025: 47 wickets in 27 matches.
• 2026 (Year to Date): 13 wickets in 7 games.

Srikkanth predicts that if India secures the title, Varun is a prime candidate for Player of the Tournament due to his economy rate. “In every match he plays, even on a bad day, he gives away only 34 or 35 runs. For a spinner, four overs for 36 runs is absolutely acceptable in T20 cricket. But within that, he still takes one or two wickets,” he added.

India will look to utilize this spin advantage in their upcoming Super 8 encounter against South Africa on Sunday, February 22.

For more updates on the Indian squad, visit the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) official site or check match analysis on ESPN Cricinfo.