Varun Chakravarthy used his skills incorrectly at T20 World Cup: Amit Mishra
Varun Chakravarthy’s contrasting performances across formats recently, from dominating the IPL to facing challenges during the T20 World Cup despite finishing as the joint-highest wicket-taker, underline a deeper truth about spin bowling in T20 cricket - mystery alone isn’t enough. For former India leg-spinner Amit Mishra, the issue wasn’t about Chakravarthy being "decoded" but about execution under pressure. "In the T20 World Cup, Varun was using his skills a bit incorrectly," Mishra told TimesofIndia.
com . "He started bowling a bit too fast, leaving his strengths. In the IPL (last year), he used to bowl one slow ball, one top-spin, one googly, and one leg-spin.
He wasn’t doing that under pressure (in T20 World Cup) when runs were being scored. " Mishra pointed to a shift in approach rather than a dip in ability. "You need someone to tell you, to explain.
Everyone knows execution is important, that’s why I say stick to your strengths. " The rise of mystery spinners in T20s From Sunil Narine and Ajantha Mendis to Abrar Ahmed and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, mystery spinners have become central to T20 cricket’s evolution. Since the format’s introduction, such bowlers have had an unprecedented impact.
The addition of the Decision Review System (DRS) has further aided their success, giving umpires more confidence on marginal calls. Yet, traditional spinners - those who rely on spin, dip, and a dependable stock ball - continue to remain relevant. Mishra believes that despite the growing obsession with variations, the fundamentals of spin bowling remain unchanged.