Varun Chakravarthy & Kuldeep Yadav in T20 cricket: A comparative analysis

Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav compared in T20 cricket through wickets, economy rates, and key match impacts.

India are likely to field their three top spinners – Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy – in their XI when they open their Asia Cup 2025 opener against United Arab Emirates on September 10. As the pitches in the UAE are likely to offer help to spinners, the tweakers will be raring to have a go at the batters. All-rounder Axar adds depth to the XI with his batting ability, but is more of a containing bowler now. Kuldeep and Varun are the main wicket-taking options for India as they can ruthlessly run through the opponents with their variation, skills and control over the ball.

So, Varun or Kuldeep? Who is more likely to threaten the opposition in the Asia Cup? Here’s a look at a comparative analysis between the two spinners in T20 cricket.

First, here’s a look at how these two players fare in T20 cricket:

The data shows the experience of the two bowlers in T20 cricket as they have good numbers in the wickets’ column. They have represented many franchises in India Premier League, and have been a match-winner for their teams. In domestic competitions too, the two spinners are big draws as India pitches are conducive for their kind of bowling. 

However, when it comes to T20Is, Kuldeep scores a point or two over Varun in terms of longevity and consistency as he was once the first-choice spinner in the XI before the latter took over. Injuries troubled Kuldeep and kept him out of the national reckoning, before India saw the rise of Varun, who made a roaring comeback to T20Is post the 2024 World T20. 

Read More: India’s bowlers have taken 185 wickets in middle overs (7-15) in T20Is post T20 World Cup 2022

Here’s how the Varun and Kuldeep fare in T20Is

Also, their contribution to winning causes for India shows good numbers, meaning the team wins more likely when these star players contribute towards the team’s cause.  

Here’s how Varun Chakravarthy fares in won and lost causes for India:

Here’s how Kuldeep Yadav fares in won and lost causes for India:

However, it is interesting to note that although they have contributed big towards India’s win, they have played together in India’s XI only twice. And both the times, India had lost. The opponents both the times have been Sri Lanka.

Read More: Numerical story of India’s batting dominance in T20Is post T20 WC 2022

What stands them out

Making grand comeback
Both the players have made remarkable comeback from failures. They have taken failures as stepping stones to success. At one point of time, Kuldeep Yadav’s form was on the wane and injuries posed a big challenge for him. He worked on his bowling action, changed a few technical things, and came back stronger to first impress in the IPL, and then regain his place in national team in T20Is. He went on to be part of the winning 2024 World T20 campaign for India.

On the other hand, Chakravarthy also made a spectacular return to T20Is after he was dropped after the 2021 World T20 debacle. He picked up just 2 wickets in his first 6 T20I games. When he made a comeback in 2024, it was no looking back. He bagged 31 wickets in 12 games post his return, with two five-wicket hauls. It was a comeback of the legend.

Mastery of spin
Varun Chakravarthy is a street-smart spinner who exploits batter’s weaknesses to pick up his wickets. It is close to impossible to read his bowling from the hand and off the pitch as he makes the ball to move both ways. Chakravarthy’s googly is the most dangerous to pick up.

Kuldeep is a rare Chinaman bowler who has good control over his skills. He gets the ball to rush into the opponents and make the batters commit mistakes. His control over his line-and-length is second to none. He is also difficult to score off as he hardly gives room for batters to play their shots.

The way ahead 
With two important T20 tournaments coming up in 2025 Asia Cup, and 2026 World T20, India need their two top spinners to be on top of their game. But most importantly, the two spinners need to complement each other well to give no room for opponents to break free. As they have not played much together, the Asia Cup will be a good opportunity to see how the two spinners click with each other. Their success will be detrimental to India’s progress in the next two T20I tournaments. 

Read More: Asia Cup 2025: Sanju Samson or Jitesh Sharma: Who makes the cut in India’s XI?