“About 63% of his deliveries were too short” - Irfan Pathan expresses concern over Varun Chakravarthy’s dip in form

Former Indian all-rounder and commentator Irfan Pathan has expressed his concern over the Indian mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who went on to leak a lot of runs in the last two matches.

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Speaking exclusively on his YouTube channel, Pathan revealed that about 63 per cent of Varun’s deliveries were too short, adding that it could complicate things as India heads to the business end of the campaign.

“The concern remains Varun Chakravarthy. About 63% of his deliveries were too short. He usually bowls a shorter length compared to traditional spinners, but not this short. In the last two matches, he has bowled fuller to left-handers but too short to right-handers. If this is a conscious tactical shift, it could complicate things,” Pathan said on his YouTube channel.

Furthermore, Pathan backed the mystery spinner to come out stronger on the Eden Gardens surface, which he knows pretty well as he plays for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). 

“Against West Indies in Kolkata, a pitch he knows well, he can bounce back. Just a slight adjustment in length, maybe come closer to the stumps around the wicket to left-handers, and he’ll be back. If he picks up an early wicket, he can create serious pressure,” he added.

For the unversed, against South Africa in Ahmedabad, Varun conceded 47 runs at an economy of 11.75 while scalping only one wicket. Subsequently, against Zimbabwe, he conceded 35 runs in three overs at an economy of 8.75.

Notably, despite his recent poor performances, Varun has been one of India’s standout performers in the ongoing showpiece event, picking up 11 wickets in six matches at an economy of 7.20, emerging as the fifth-leading wicket-taker so far in the competition.

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