Gautam Gambhir brings a Spartan mentality to the team: Varun Chakravarthy

Indian mystery spinner Varun Chakavarthy has heaped praise on the Team India head coach, Gautam Gambhir, for instilling a Spartan mentality within the whole team, a mindset where ‘defeat’ isn’t an option and every player is expected to give their best, adding that no one can be mediocre on the field under him.

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While Chakravarthy made his international debut against Sri Lanka way back in 2021, he had to sit on the sidelines after failing to create an impact initially in his international career. However, under Gambhir, Varun excelled, emerging as one of the most important players of the Indian T20I side.

While in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, he scalped nine wickets from three matches at an average of 15.11; he also scalped seven wickets from six games at an average of 20.42 in the recently concluded Asia Cup 2025 campaign. 

Before this, Varun worked under Gautam Gambhir at the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League. He played a crucial role in the IPL 2024 season, scalping 21 wickets from 14 innings as KKR went on to emerge victorious in the grand finale over SRH.

"I have already worked with him in the IPL and we won that (in 2024), so (there is) nothing new to me because I have already been around him," Chakravarthy told reporters during the CEAT Cricket Rating awards.

"But definitely one thing which I can say about him is he brings a Spartan mentality to the team where there is no option of losing, you just have to bring (out) your best and give everything on the ground and later on, whatever happens, happens...When he is around, there is no mediocrity; you can't be mediocre in the field, that's what I feel," he added.

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