Gautam Gambhir Urged to Protect Varun Chakaravarthy’s Mystery

Former Indian cricketer and current head coach Gautam Gambhir has received advice from former spinner Ravichandran Ashwin regarding the management of mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy during the upcoming T20I series against South Africa. Ashwin cautioned that overexposing Chakaravarthy could diminish his effectiveness, especially with the T20 World Cup approaching.

In a recent discussion on his YouTube channel, “Ash Ki Baat,” Ashwin emphasized the importance of maintaining Chakaravarthy’s element of surprise. He noted that India’s performance against South Africa could have implications for their strategy in the World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2024.

Chakaravarthy, who has played 29 T20Is for India, boasts an impressive record of 45 wickets, with his best figures being 5/17. Ashwin highlighted the spinner’s ability to “spin a web around opponents,” suggesting that he and fellow spinner Kuldeep Yadav could form a formidable partnership. However, he advised that both players should not be exposed too frequently prior to the World Cup to keep their strategies under wraps.

“**We shouldn’t overexpose Varun Chakaravarthy. We shouldn’t do that. One should save him**,” Ashwin stated. He reiterated the potential of facing South Africa and New Zealand in the World Cup, adding, “Varun’s mystery is a big factor. He has been playing for many years, but he’s still able to hold his own.”

Ashwin further urged the management to limit the exposure of both Chakaravarthy and Yadav in the lead-up to the tournament. “**Don’t give them enough time to figure him out. The more they play against him, they will also have a chance of figuring it out. Mystery should remain mystery**,” he warned.

The five-match T20I series against South Africa is set to commence on December 9, 2023, in Cuttack. The Indian team will welcome back players Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya, who have recovered from injuries, adding further strength to the squad ahead of this crucial series.

As India gears up for the T20 World Cup, the management’s strategic decisions regarding player utilization will be closely scrutinized. Balancing the need for preparation with the imperative to keep key players like Chakaravarthy unpredictable will be vital for India’s aspirations to defend their title.