India bowling coach Morne Morkel said that Varun Chakravarthy has felt the pressure of delivering crucial breakthroughs for India in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Varun has arguably been India’s standout bowler in the tournament, claiming nine wickets from four matches at an outstanding economy rate of 6.88.
He will once again be expected to rise to the occasion when India begin their Super 8 campaign against South Africa on Sunday, February 22, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Morkel acknowledged that while Chakravarthy has led the attack brilliantly, he will need stronger support from the other bowlers to ease the workload and maintain his effectiveness.
“He’s obviously been a strike bowler and has done really well in the World Cup so far. Even before that, he’s been a go-to guy for us. But you still need the other bowlers to create pressure and build things up so he can be effective,” Morkel said in a press conference.
“Sometimes he feels the pressure to break partnerships and give us momentum. It’s important to remind him not to rush things. If he lands the ball at the right pace and in the right areas, things will happen. He’s not alone out there,” Morkel added.
HOW HAS VARUN CHAKRAVARTHY PERFORMED RECENTLY?
Chakravarthy has been one of India’s most consistent bowlers since his return to T20I cricket in late 2024. He is currently on a streak of 17 consecutive T20Is with at least one wicket, underlining his reliability with the ball in hand.
Since his comeback, the 34-year-old Varun has taken 66 wickets in 32 innings at an impressive economy rate of 7.19, including two five-wicket hauls – a remarkable return for a spinner in the shortest format.
His ability to apply sustained pressure, strike at crucial intervals, and control the scoring rate has firmly established him as India’s premier middle-overs enforcer.
In the ongoing World Cup, Varun has carried that form onto the global stage. He began strongly against Namibia, returning sensational figures of 2-0-7-3 to dismantle the batting line-up.
Against Pakistan, he followed it up with 3-0-17-2 at an economy of 5.67, playing a key role in restricting them to 114. He then produced another incisive spell versus the Netherlands, claiming 3-0-14-3 to cap off a dominant group-stage run.
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