NEW DELHI: India spinner Varun Chakravarthy highlights the leadership qualities of head coach Gautam Gambhir and T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav, emphasising their ability to shield the players from external pressures and distractions.
“GG (Gambhir) and Surya (Kumar Yadav) made sure that there was no external stress on the players. They keep the external noise away,” Chakravarthy said during the pre-match press conference ahead of the second T20I in Chennai.
Playing at Chepauk, his home venue, Chakravarthy is set to feature in his first international match there, and he expressed his delight at the opportunity.
“Back to Chennai and the base is very important for me. I see it as a very important day for me. Playing for my country in front of my parents and the home crowd. It is very special for me,” he said.
Chakravarthy compared the standards of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy to the IPL, emphasizing that cricketers should participate more in the domestic tournament to enhance their tactical understanding of the T20 format.
He was instrumental in India’s seven-wicket victory over England in the first T20I in Kolkata on Wednesday, claiming three crucial wickets.
Meanwhile, several prominent players, including India captain Rohit Sharma and dynamic wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, represented their respective domestic sides in the penultimate round of the Ranji Trophy.
“The level of domestic cricket is extremely high. I would say almost on par with IPL and the other international matches we play. So, I would suggest everyone to play the Syed Mushtaq Ali because we play on small grounds. It is very challenging,” Chakravarthy said.
“I find it very tough playing SMAT. It has definitely helped me to get better, be more instinctive, be on my toes and think correctly at the right moment,” he added.
The 33-year-old backed his words with action, finishing as the second-highest wicket-taker in this season’s Vijay Hazare Trophy with 18 wickets, while also claiming nine wickets in seven matches during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT).
He also highlighted the importance of his meticulous preparation before matches to outsmart batters in the T20 format.
“The first thing begins with preparation, looking at the batsmen’s video and what are their early shots and what shots they are looking to play, and have they added a new shot in their book.
“Definitely, I do that research. Based on the pitch, certain shots work and certain shots don’t work. Based on that, I have a certain calculation in my mind and work around that,” he explained.
Chakravarthy’s approach has paid off handsomely, as he has picked up 20 wickets in nine T20Is since making his comeback for India during the series against Bangladesh in October 2024.
Though he had to wait three years to return to the national team, the setback did not deter him, showcasing his resilience and determination.
“When I got dropped (in 2021), that gave me a lot of time to work on my mindset and my technique, re-change, and tweak many things about my bowling.”
Now, he is determined to make the most of every opportunity to solidify his position as a key spinner in India’s T20 setup.
“My role is to just be aggressive and be brave and keep bowling at the stumps. That has been my role. There is no added responsibility.