Former India batter Aakash Chopra has expressed strong criticism of the Indian team management’s handling of mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy during the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup. Chopra questioned why Chakravarthy was not consistently allowed to bowl his full quota of four overs in the group stage.
Chopra highlighted India’s group-stage clash against Netherlands, where Chakravarthy delivered an impressive spell. The leg-spinner returned with figures of 3/14 in three overs, playing a crucial role in India’s 17-run victory. However, he was not brought back to complete his fourth over, which did not sit well with Chopra.
"Why are you not getting Varun Chakaravarthy to bowl his overs? You are not giving him all his overs. You have done it only once, against USA, because you used only five bowlers. Do you do that with any batter? Do you ask them to come out if they are playing well and have scored 50-60 runs?" Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
"You don't do that. They can play even 60 balls. A bowler can't bowl more than 24 balls, and you are not letting him bowl those 24 either. He would have taken at least one five-wicket haul, but you didn't let him do it. You didn't play him against New Zealand as well. If a batter needs rhythm, a bowler also needs that," added.
Chakaravarthy has taken nine wickets in the four matches he has played in the T20I World Cup. Across four matches, he has bowled only 12 overs. Unbeaten India, meanwhile, are through to the Super 8 and will lock horns with South Africa on Sunday in Ahmedabad.