Mumbai: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan surprised believes leg spinner Varun Chakravarthy could be an X-factor for the Indian cricket team in the forthcoming T20 World Cup. He also stated that the mystery element in his bowling is likely to remain the same.
Kolkata Knight Riders’ mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy played a major role in the his team’s nine-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore. He picked three crucial wickets of Glenn Maxwell, Sachin Baby and Wanindu Hasaranga for 13 runs from his 4 overs to script KKR’s 9-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in Abu Dhabi.
Continuing the mystery with a Man-of-the-match performance! 🔮@chakaravarthy29 #KKRvRCB #KKR #AmiKKR #KorboLorboJeetbo #আমিKKR pic.twitter.com/Toq0F6SCAY
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) September 20, 2021
“He can be a huge X-factor. You have not played him in international cricket, you have definitely played him in the IPL but the dynamics are slightly different in the IPL. When you play him in the World Cup after playing him in the IPL, it will still be different, the World Cup pressure will be different and the mystery will remain,” Pathan said.
The 30 year old, grabbed the limelight when he picked 17 wickets for in IPL 2020 at an average of 20.94. and 10 scalps in 8 games in IPL 2021 first phase averaging 23.2. As the tournament returned to the UAE once again, the mystery spinner grabbed the opportunity once again and stunned everyone with his heroic bowling.
Irfan further gave the example of former India pacer and his teammate Zaheer Khan’s knuckleball at the 2011 World Cup to explain his point. “If you remember the 2011 World Cup, Zaheer Khan started using the knuckle ball in the World Cup and not before that. That was a surprise delivery. So, the surprise factor is definitely beneficial when you play a new thing or bowler. Something similar can happen for Varun Chakravarthy,” he elaborated.
3️⃣'s a company! 😉
Varun's 3/13 & Russell's 3/9 had us in the driver's seat earlier tonight! 💜💛@chakaravarthy29 @Russell12A #KKRvRCB #AmiKKR #KorboLorboJeetbo #আমিKKR #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/pXoH7y4nvc
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) September 20, 2021
Chakravarthy, has represented Team India in just three T20Is to date, during the Sri Lanka tour in July. Although he scalped just a couple of wickets, he was extremely economical (5.3). The 30-year-old was recently picked in India’s T20 World Cup squad, a result of his hard work over the years.
