“He has become almost like Bumrah on impact” - Sridharan Sriram’s massive claim on Indian star ahead of IND vs SA 2025 1st T20I

Former Indian spin-bowling all-rounder Sridharan Sriram hailed Varun Chakaravarthy for becoming one of the side's most impactful bowlers in T20Is ahead of the five-match series against South Africa. The 34-year-old has turned into India's go-to spinner since his return to the side after the T20 World Cup last year.

Varun finished with 17 wickets in seven T20Is last year at an average of 12.41 and an economy of 7.53. He has continued his red-hot form this year, picking up 26 scalps in 16 T20Is at an average of 13.96 and an economy of under seven.

Talking about Varun Chakaravarthy's resounding impact, Sriram said on Star Sports (13:19):

"He has evolved tremendously and bowls the tough overs now. Surya uses him inside the powerplay and in the 17th or 18th over, and whenever a wicket is needed. So Varun has become almost like Bumrah on impact in the T20 format. He is one of the pillars of the Indian bowling. Especially in Indian conditions, when he gets grip, he'll be even more deadly."

Varun's consistent exploits have helped him become the world's No. 1-ranked T20I bowler, according to the latest ICC rankings.

"He realised he had to be different" - Sadagoppan Ramesh on Varun Chakaravarthy

Former Indian opener Sadagoppan Ramesh believes that starting his cricketing career late helped Varun Chakaravarthy realize the importance of developing a variety of deliveries in his arsenal. The veteran spinner debuted at the domestic level at only 27 and made his Indian debut at 30.

"He has decoded one thing really well. Because he started late in his cricketing career, he realised he had to be different. He knew he would go unnoticed or not see success if he just did the run-of-the-mill things. Because he knew he had to be different as a late bloomer, he has developed these deliveries. When it comes to bowling, Bumrah, Kuldeep and Varun will be our X-factors," said Ramesh (via the aforementioned source).

Ramesh also believes Varun is currently atop the Indian spin-bowling pecking order in T20Is.

"Unfortunately, Kuldeep and Varun may not fit into the same 11 because India's pattern has been to not go for too many bowlers. Though we have two brilliant spinners in Kuldeep and Varun, Varun will be my first choice in that. Varun has the ability to bowl in the powerplay but Kuldeep lacks that skill in T20s. That's the huge deciding factor. So Varun will be our biggest X-factor with the ball," he said.

Varun will look to continue his impressive form in the India-South Africa T20I series, starting with the opener in Cuttack on December 9.