Kris Srikkanth stated that Varun Chakaravarthy is currently more effective than Jasprit Bumrah in the Indian team. He noted that despite Chakaravarthy’s impressive performances in T20 Cricket, he doesn’t receive the recognition he deserves.
In the T20 World Cup 2026, Varun has taken nine wickets in four matches, boasting an average of 6.88 and an economy rate of 5.16. His standout performance against the Netherlands included three wickets for 14 runs in three overs. Without those critical wickets, India’s winning streak in the tournament could have been interrupted.
Across the 21 matches they’ve played together, Varun has outperformed Bumrah in terms of wickets, with a tally of 30 to 22. In a discussion on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth emphasized that Varun deserves more appreciation and highlighted the challenges batters face against his variations.
“Review the pitch maps — most of his deliveries target off-stump and middle-stump. Against right-handers, the ball angles in slightly before turning. His googly is particularly sharp. Most of his victims are from deliveries that are good length or slightly shorter. Even his short balls are tricky,” Srikkanth explained.
“Batters often can’t tell what he’s bowling. Is it a googly or a straight delivery? Is it slower or quicker? No one knows. Suddenly, he’ll bowl a quicker one. He changes his speed consistently. With a long run-up and a relaxed action, he’s incredibly deceptive. He doesn’t receive enough credit. Bumrah is exceptional, and finding a bowler like him is rare,” he added.
Srikkanth also predicted that Chakaravarthy could be named Player of the Tournament if India wins. Notably, Bumrah won this honor in the last tournament in 2024, when India claimed the title under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy.
“Absolutely, he can be the Player of the Tournament. He’s consistently effective. On his bad days, he still concedes just 34 or 35 runs. For a spinner, allowing 36 runs in four overs is acceptable in T20, especially when he often takes one or two wickets. He regularly delivers match-winning performances but doesn’t get enough recognition,” said Srikkanth.
Varun, you are a modern-day great: Srikkanth
Srikkanth praised Varun as a modern-day great in T20s, stating that he replicates the impact Bumrah had in the format a few years ago.
“Varun, you are a modern-day great. This isn’t about your background, but purely about your skill. Batters are confused by him. They don’t know whether to defend or attack. This uncertainty is what Bumrah brought to the game years ago. Bumrah continues to excel,” Srikkanth mentioned.
Regarding Bumrah’s current performance in the World Cup, the 32-year-old has taken four wickets in three matches, with an average of 13.50 and an economy rate of 6.
Both Bumrah and Chakaravarthy will play crucial roles in the upcoming Super 8s, as the challenges ahead will become increasingly intense.
