Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has received massive praise from former India and Chennai Super Kings batter Subramaniam Badrinath, who claimed the mystery spinner is currently a more valuable T20 bowler than even Jasprit Bumrah. Badrinath's comments follow Chakaravarthy's exceptional performance in the recent T20I series against Australia, where he emerged as India's best bowler.
Chakaravarthy claimed five wickets in three innings against the visitors, showcasing his ability to restrict runs and take wickets across all phases of the game. Badrinath highlighted the spinner's versatility, noting that he is the 'go-to bowler' whenever runs are flowing, whether in the powerplay, middle overs, or the death overs. This versatility is seen as a huge asset for the Indian team.

Best pressure bowlers among bowling specialists in IPL 2025 (calculated as [Wickets ÷ Overs] × [10 - Economy Rate], minimum 10 overs, bowlers/all-rounders only)
| Rank | Player | Team | pressure-bowlers |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | MI | 1.27 index | |
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“Numbers tell us that Varun Chakravarthy is the No. 1 T20 bowler in the world. He is more valuable than even Bumrah.”
Bowler
This high praise marks a significant comeback for the Tamil Nadu spinner, who had previously faced fitness setbacks. Badrinath believes that Chakaravarthy has taken his game to the 'next level' in this second phase of his career, positioning him as a crucial factor for India, especially with the upcoming T20 World Cup on the horizon.
“Numbers tell us that Varun Chakravarthy is the No. 1 T20 bowler in the world. He is more valuable than even Bumrah.”
Bowler
| #2 |
| SRH |
| 1.25 index |
| #3 | CSK | 0.88 index |
| #4 | DC | 0.86 index |
| #5 | KKR | 0.80 index |