Varun Chakravarthy Hails Gambhir’s 'Spartan Mentality', Credits Comeback to Gambhir and Surya
Top-ranked T20I bowler Varun Chakravarthy has praised India head coach Gautam Gambhir for instilling a “Spartan mentality” in the national team, describing it as a culture where "there is no option of losing". He also credited both Gambhir and T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav for playing pivotal roles in his international comeback after a prolonged absence.
Speaking at the CEAT Cricket Rating Awards in Mumbai on Tuesday, Varun said Gambhir’s presence has raised standards within the team.
“Definitely one thing which I can say about [Gambhir] is he brings a Spartan mentality to the team where there is no option of losing,” Varun said. “You just have to bring your best and give everything on the ground and later on, whatever happens, happens.”
“When he is around, there is no mediocrity – you can't be mediocre in the field, that's what I feel.”
Comeback After Three-Year Hiatus
Varun made his international debut in July 2021 but endured a difficult T20 World Cup campaign later that year, after which he was dropped from the national setup. He remained out of the side for nearly three years before making a strong return in October 2024, following back-to-back impressive IPL seasons.
“When I made my comeback again, Surya and GG [Gambhir] spoke to me and told me that we are looking at you as one of the wicket-takers. And they have backed me throughout. For that, I have to give them the credit,” he said.
Since his return, Varun has become a regular feature in India’s T20I squad, made his ODI debut, and played a key role in India’s Champions Trophy triumph earlier this year.
ODI Aspirations and Areas of Focus
Though currently left out of India’s ODI squad for the upcoming Australia tour, Varun shared insights into what Gambhir expects from him to boost his chances in the 50-over format.
“The conversations were around bowling longer spells. Because in T20, you bowl a maximum of two overs back-to-back. But in ODIs, you have to bowl five to six overs at a stretch. I worked on that and was able to do it in the Champions Trophy,” he said.
“And he wants me to bat a little more up the order in the domestic circuit and improve on my batting.”
Praise for Kuldeep Yadav
Varun also lauded fellow spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who was the leading wicket-taker in the recently concluded Asia Cup.
“Kuldeep is definitely one of the most experienced bowlers right now in the pool of players that we have and he has done amazingly well,” Varun noted. “I bowl at the speeds of 95kph and he bowls around 85kph, so we kind of complement each other. He has more revs and more turn, I have more speed and bounce. Till now it's been working well for us. Hopefully, we can do the same thing in the World Cup also.”
With the T20 World Cup looming, Varun’s resurgence and the evolving dynamics under Gambhir’s leadership offer a strong foundation for India’s hopes on the global stage.