T20 World Cup 2026: Varun Chakaravarthy is more lethal than Jasprit Bumrah?
Former India opener Kris Srikkanth opined that Varun Chakaravarthy has emerged as the most potent bowling weapon in the Indian side at present, even suggesting that he appears more lethal than Jasprit Bumrah in current conditions. While acknowledging Bumrah’s stature and reputation in world cricket, Srikkanth highlighted that Chakaravarthy’s impact in the ongoing tournament has been extraordinary. He also remarked that despite consistently delivering match-winning performances in the shortest format, the mystery spinner does not always receive the same level of recognition or celebration.
T20 World Cup 2026: Varun Chakaravarthy is more dangerous as compared to Jasprit Bumrah?
Varun’s numbers in the T20 World Cup 2026 underline his dominance. In four matches, he has claimed nine wickets at a staggering average of 6.88, complemented by an exceptional economy rate of 5.16. His ability to control the run flow while striking at crucial intervals has made him a game-changer. Against the Netherlands, he produced another clinical spell, finishing with figures of three for 14 in three overs. Those timely breakthroughs halted the opposition’s momentum, and without his intervention, India’s unbeaten run in the tournament could have faced a serious threat.
In the 21 matches where Varun Chakaravarthy and Jasprit Bumrah have featured together, the numbers suggest that the mystery spinner has had the upper hand in terms of wicket-taking impact. Varun has claimed 30 wickets in those games, compared to Bumrah’s 22, underlining his growing influence in the T20 setup. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kris Srikkanth remarked that despite such impressive returns, Varun does not receive the level of appreciation his performances warrant.
He observed that batters often appear completely unsettled while facing him, struggling to decipher his variations and changes in pace. According to Srikkanth, the uncertainty Varun creates forces opposition players into mistakes, as they are frequently caught in two minds about reading his deliveries off the pitch. He emphasized that this ability to confuse and outthink batters is what makes Varun such a formidable asset in the shortest format of the game.
"Look at the pitch maps — most of his deliveries are around off-stump and middle-stump. Against right-handers, the ball just angles in slightly and then turns. His googly comes in sharply. Most of his wickets are from good length or just short of good length. Not even full deliveries. Even his so-called short balls are deceptive," said former Indian cricketer Kris Srikkanth.
“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. Suddenly he bowls one faster. Then he changes speed again. Multiple speeds. Long run-up, relaxed action — but incredibly deceptive. Frankly speaking, he doesn’t get enough credit. Bumrah is fantastic. You won’t easily find a bowler like Bumrah," he added.
Kris Srikkanth went a step further in his praise for Varun Chakaravarthy, backing the mystery spinner as a strong contender for the Player of the Tournament award if India lift the T20 World Cup. He suggested that Varun’s consistent wicket-taking ability and control in high-pressure moments have positioned him as a standout performer in the competition. According to Srikkanth, players who make decisive contributions in crucial matches often shape the destiny of a title-winning campaign, and Varun has shown exactly that kind of influence.
Interestingly, in the previous edition of the tournament in 2024, it was Jasprit Bumrah who walked away with the Player of the Tournament honour when India clinched the trophy under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy. Drawing a comparison, Srikkanth described Varun as a modern-day great in the T20 format, claiming that he is currently delivering the sort of match-defining performances that Bumrah produced in T20 internationals a few years ago. In his view, Varun has seamlessly stepped into that role of being India’s go-to bowler in crunch situations.
“Varun, you are a modern-day great. I’m telling you honestly from my heart — not because you’re Tamil, not because you’re from Tamil Nadu or Chennai. No. Purely because of ability. Every batter is struggling. They don’t know how to face him. They don’t know whether to defend. They don’t know whether to attack. They don’t know what to do against him. That’s exactly what Bumrah used to be a couple of years ago. Bumrah is still doing brilliantly," concluded Srikkanth.
