Varun Chakaravarthy isolated, ordered to stay away from Team India for 2 days before T20 WC final

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has made a massive statement regarding out-of-form spinner Varun Chakaravarthy. Following India's thrilling victory over England in the T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal, Pathan stated that the Tamil Nadu bowler should stay away from practice sessions before the final.

The Men in Blue secured a narrow seven-run win at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday, March 5. Varun endured a terrible outing with the ball. The 34-year-old bowler recorded his worst bowling performance in T20 Internationals, leaking 64 runs in his four overs while picking up just one wicket.

I Feel That His Confidence Is Going Down - Irfan Pathan on Varun Chakaravarthy

Speaking in a video on his YouTube channel, Irfan Pathan advised the team management to give Varun Chakaravarthy a break. Pathan stated that a two-day rest away from the cricket field will help Varun reset his mindset ahead of the final match.

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“It will be very important how quickly we can bring Varun Chakaravarthy back into a better frame of mind. I feel that his confidence is going down. If I were in the Indian team camp, I would make sure that for the next two days not many people talk to him," Pathan said.

"I would not even let him come to the ground. If I am backing him and planning to play him, then I would keep him away from the ground and let him come directly on the day of the final. I would completely switch his mind off for two days and try to bring him towards positivity. But I would not make him practice,” he added.

So Just Leave Varun Chakaravarthy Alone for Two Days - Irfan Pathan

In the same video, the former Indian pacer pointed out a major flaw in Varun Chakaravarthy's current training methods. Pathan noted that the spinner has been practicing short-pitched deliveries. He insisted that skipping the training sessions is the most logical step right now.

“Tell me, what difference will practice make in just one day? He has been practicing regularly anyway, but it feels like the practice is not going in the right direction. He is practicing short deliveries, which is not really his strength," Pathan opined.

"Right now, it feels like his confidence is dropping. So just leave him alone for two days. Let him come on the day of the final and perform. That would be the hope. The team management will surely think about what to do with him, but I would say do not make him practice. That is my thinking.”

Varun Chakaravarthy Struggles for Form Ahead of T20 World Cup 2026 Final

During the semifinal, Varun Chakaravarthy only managed to remove dangerman Jos Buttler for 25 but struggled against the other English batters. He recorded the second-most runs ever conceded by an Indian bowler in a single T20I match.

Varun entered the tournament as the No. 1-ranked T20I bowler in the world. He picked up nine wickets in his first four group stage outings. However, the spinner's form has dipped since the start of the Super Eights phase.

The mystery spinner has been going at an economy rate of over 10 in each of his last four games. So far in the World Cup, Varun has taken 13 wickets in eight matches with an average of 19.07 and an economy rate of 8.85.

Overall, he has taken 72 wickets in 44 T20Is with an impressive average of 16.30 and a tight economy rate of 7.45. India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, will be hoping he can rediscover his form against New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, March 8.

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