Former India captain Sourav Ganguly believes India’s prospects of defending their T20 World Cup title at home will hinge significantly on how well Varun Chakravarthy performs in the tournament, underlining the importance of the team’s spin-heavy bowling attack.
Ganguly, speaking briefly about India’s preparations in an interaction with PTI , stressed that home conditions place an even greater premium on quality spin bowling, something he feels India are well-equipped with heading into the global event.
“Yeah, nothing (home WC) gets bigger than that, and India is always my favourite team. They have a strong spin attack and if Chakravarthy is fit then it’s good for India,” Ganguly said, highlighting both the expectations and opportunities that come with hosting the tournament.
India have indeed gone all-in on spin for the upcoming T20 World Cup, selecting a formidable quartet of Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar. With matches set to be played across India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, spin is expected to play a decisive role as surfaces wear and conditions slow down.
Among them, Chakravarthy stands out as a key weapon. The mystery spinner has taken 51 wickets in 32 T20Is and arrives at the World Cup on the back of an impressive showing against South Africa, where he picked up six wickets in a five-match series. His ability to deceive batters in the middle overs makes him central to India’s plans, especially in high-pressure knockout matches.
