Heads up, cricket fans—a surprising turn is about to shake up the Asia Cup! The national team of India will be headed to the UAE for the international tournament in 2025, and while we typically discuss bigger players like Bumrah, Hardik, and Axar to be the star players, former all-rounder Irfan Pathan has surprised with his pick of the mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy to be India’s potential X-Factor.
The Comeback Kid: Chakaravarthy’s Journey from Woes to Wonder
Varun Chakaravarthy is not the newest name in T20 cricket – he is a player who has gone through the highs and lows of a career. Who could forget the 2021 T20 World Cup action in the UAE? His mystery spin had not worked out as imagined, and the followers of the game were frowning. Life and cricket always have a penchant for comebacks.
In the IPL of 2025, he was the Kolkata Knight Riders’ leading wicket taker, taking 17 wickets in 13 games at a very decent economy rate of 7.66. Then, in the 2025 Champions Trophy in the UAE, we saw a few signs of the magic we were all waiting for. Pathan is hoping that this resurgence of confidence will allow us to see Chakaravarthy finally forget about the 2021 World Cup and become a real match-winner in the Asia Cup.
Why Chakaravarthy Could Be the Ultimate X-Factor
So what makes Irfan Pathan so confident about Chakaravarthy? For one, the spinner has had a solid and lethal few years. India’s bowling core for the Asia Cup is seriously impressive as well; Bumrah, Hardik, Axar, and Arshdeep Singh can boast an impressive pace/all-rounder core. However, what Chakaravarthy provides is unpredictability, as once he starts to bowl, reading his variations becomes extremely difficult and could be a nightmare to oppose on pitches like Dubai or Sharjah.
Pathan noted how India’s makeup allows flexibility. The all-rounders provide depth in batting and bowling, so that Chakaravarthy doesn’t just take a slot – he can take advantage of match situations, and swing games in India’s favour. Imagine Hardik and Axar bowling 4 overs each, and then Chakaravarthy gives you his deadly 3-4 overs; that’s a weapon!
All Eyes on Selection Battles and Hidden Gems
However, it’s not all going smoothly for India. Pathan suggested that in-form players such as Rinku Singh may struggle to earn a spot in the playing XI despite recent numbers in tournaments such as UPT20. Choosing all-rounders over purely specialist batsmen in the last few slots in the line-up may be a tactical decision, but it also opens the door for Chakaravarthy to help. In the competition between all-rounders and specialists for the bottom of our playing XI, the only thing a confident and in-form spinner like Varun has to do is make an impact.
Somewhat amusingly, wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav has not gained any traction with the current team set-up, who, when venturing into the spin department, would use seamers first, followed by part-time spinners, like Abhishek Sharma. Accordingly, Chakaravarthy occupies a pivotal role; he literally can wear the crown as the “make or break” player in the very important matches against UAE, Pakistan, or Sri Lanka.
FAQs
- How did Chakaravarthy perform in the 2025 IPL?
Varun Chakaravarthy topped KKR’s wicket charts, snaring 17 wickets across 13 matches while keeping his economy at a tidy 7.66.
- Why might Rinku Singh struggle for a spot in the playing XI?
All-rounders are likely to be prioritized over him, especially for the lower batting slots.
- How might Chakaravarthy shake things up in India’s bowling attack?
He could provide crucial overs of mystery spin, adding unpredictability and match-winning potential.
