Pathan wants the Indian team to give Chakravarthy time to switch off and come to the final of the 2026 T20 World Cup with a new attitude. Pathan asked this after Chakravarthy – who at one time was the best T20I bowler in the world – did badly in the recent Super 8s games and in the semi-final in Wankhede. The idea is simple: get back to normal before the biggest game.
Pathan’s advice for Varun Chakravarthy
Pathan said a very clear mental reset would help Chakravarthy regain his confidence. He said on his YouTube channel that the team management should cut down on talking to him and let the spin bowler rest for two days. Pathan thought that one day’s practice would not make much difference, and that coming to the final calm and focused could help Varun do well.
Pathan stressed short, useful talks instead of surrounding the player with praise or pressure. He said to keep practice to a minimum and to control who he talked to. That approach is to give him back energy and a good attitude, rather than making the bowler feel he’s being looked at too much.
Varun Chakravarthy’s tournament form and job
Chakravarthy came into the tournament in good form and proved he was good from the start. He got nine wickets in the first part of the tournament, and is still among the top wicket-takers with 13 wickets from eight matches. His average of 19.07 shows he is able to get wickets at important times.
The tricky spinner has been India’s main enforcer in the middle overs and a different sort of player from others. His changes and wristy releases give India some freedom, and the chance to use him in the Powerplay if they want to. This tactical value is what the management is thinking about as they prepare for the final.
Recent problems and important numbers
Since the Super 8s, Chakravarthy has let runs through and his economy rate has got worse. He gave away 122 runs in 12 overs against South Africa, Zimbabwe, and West Indies. In Wankhede, he gave away 64 in his four overs, the most expensive spell by an Indian in a T20 World Cup game.
These expensive spells could have changed the results. In the semi-final, India just about got through thanks to other bowlers, mostly Jasprit Bumrah. But Chakravarthy’s recent economy rate in the middle overs is a tactical problem as they go into the final against New Zealand.
The question: keep Chakravarthy or bring back Kuldeep Yadav
The choice for the team is easy to see. Stick with the tricky spinner who has sometimes broken up attacking batting plans, or replace him with Kuldeep Yadav, a good left-arm wrist spinner with a strong record at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The management has to weigh up form, which teams they are playing against, and what the pitch is like.
Kuldeep offers a different skill set. He uses flight, drift and dip to make people make mistakes, and his past form at the Ahmedabad ground makes him a good choice. If the pitch rewards normal spin and the larger boundaries favour flighted bowling, Kuldeep could be the safer, attacking choice.
What India should think about before the final
The choice of player should depend on what the pitch report says, what the team thinks about the other side, and what the player is thinking. New Zealand’s middle order has shown it is weak against unusual spin, which makes a case for keeping Chakravarthy if he is mentally ready. But if the ground is dry with turn, Kuldeep’s speed and changes could be better.
Pathan’s main point is still mental readiness. Whether the management chooses Varun or Kuldeep, making sure the spinner they choose comes with confidence and a clear mind could be what decides the game. In high-risk finals, what’s in the mind often matters as much as what is planned, and India will want all the advantages they can get.
Looking forward to the final against New Zealand
India goes to Ahmedabad with balance to protect, but choices to make. A calm, clear plan for the spin options and a clear way of talking to the players will be very important. If the management follows Pathan’s advice, Varun may rest, get himself together, and go on to the field in the final with a new purpose.
In the end, the choice will show what the coaches believe, what the player feels, and what the pitch is like on the day. Whichever spinner starts, India will want to use all its resources and do a plan that works in the most important game of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
