Anil Kumble has cautioned that Varun Chakravarthy’s form drought ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 final versus New Zealand could force Jasprit Bumrah to shoulder extra responsibility for India.
The leg-spinner shone early but unravelled in later stages. His semi-final horror against England saw 64 runs conceded in four overs for one wicket at Wankhede – a T20 career worst. Adding 40 against West Indies, he’s surrendered 104 runs for two wickets recently.
On ESPN Cricinfo, Kumble noted: ‘India misses Varun’s middle-overs magic. His off-day shifts focus solely to Bumrah’s spell, a tactical mismatch.’
Suryakumar Yadav’s trust in Varun persisted despite Kuldeep’s availability. Yet, since late 2025, Varun’s expensive outings dominate his record.
Context adds edge: No T20 World Cup wins over New Zealand for India, poor Ahmedabad showings in ICC tournaments. New Zealand, final-bound again post-2021, smells glory.
The final pits strategy against stats. India’s bowling balance hangs in balance – Varun’s redemption or Kuldeep’s inclusion? Bumrah’s workload will tell the tale.