“I’ve Worked On Trying To Vary My Pace..”, Says India Spinner Varun Chakravarthy

January 23, 2025: Varun Chakravarthy’s performance in the first T20I against England truly showcased his adaptability and the mastery of his craft. His ability to vary the pace and adjust his strategy based on pitch conditions is a big reason for his success. While his googly is already a deceptive weapon, focusing on pace variations is an excellent way to make his deliveries even more challenging to pick for batsmen.

The ability to bowl with different paces, combined with his existing skillset, makes him a more unpredictable and dangerous bowler, especially in T20Is where batsmen are looking to attack from the get-go. By keeping them guessing about the speed of the delivery, Chakravarthy can disrupt their rhythm and make them second-guess their shot selection.

In addition to his variation, his adjustment to the pitch conditions by focusing on bounce over turn was a smart move. The way he played a key role in breaking the crucial partnership between Buttler and Brook, along with the dismissal of Livingstone, was a perfect demonstration of his tactical awareness.

It seems like Chakravarthy is maturing as a bowler and could become a cornerstone of India’s T20I bowling attack, especially with his evolving mystery spin. Do you think his recent focus on pace variation could make him a more consistent performer in international cricket?