As India moves towards ICC T20 World Cup 2026, Varun Chakaravarthy offered a rare insight into the mental and tactical framework shaping his preparations for the global event. Speaking ahead of the fifth and final T20I against South Africa, the player stressed that success at the elite level begins well before match day, with players needing to constantly challenge themselves, even when conditions appear comfortable.
Varun Chakaravarthy shares key takeaways ahead of T20 World Cup 2026
India being drawn in Group A alongside Namibia, Netherlands, Pakistanand the UNITED STATESVarun believes that the preparation is as much psychological as technical. India are set to begin their World Cup campaign against the United States in Mumbai on February 7, and the spinner believes waiting for the big moments to arrive naturally is a mistake.
Varun explained that elite cricketers need to produce intensity during practices and matches where the challenge does not seem obvious. He says creating internal pressure sharpens decision-making and ensures preparedness when the stakes are highest. Confidence, he stressed, comes from knowing your role, playing in the right length and entering a competition with a clear understanding of the opposition’s strengths and weaknesses.
One of Varun’s main takeaways heading into the tournament is the importance of analyzing the opposition. He believes reading batters, identifying patterns and adapting to different match situations can give bowlers an edge in T20 cricket, where the margins are razor thin.
Rather than constantly reinventing his bowling, Varun stressed the importance of trusting his existing skills. He pointed out that overthinking variations can sometimes be counterproductive, especially when rhythm and confidence are intact. For him, clarity of thought remains the foundation of coherent execution.
“It is very important to keep putting pressure on yourself to prepare for the World Cup. You have to challenge yourself even when there is no challenge. If a match seems easy, you have to create that pressure mentally and start challenging yourself. Confidence, playing in the right lengths and understanding the opposition is the key. This is a major factor that I want to take into account in the World Cup. With a better understanding of the opposition, I think I can do well.” Varun said on Star Sports.
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The key to Varun’s recent success
Reflecting on his recent strong performances, Varun attributes his success to keeping things simple. He pointed out that sticking to basic plans and bowling at consistent lengths helped him regain control and efficiency. Although not every delivery produces immediate results, he believes that patience and discipline eventually force batters to make mistakes.
Varun also recognized that confidence directly influences skill execution. A drop in belief can affect decision-making and accuracy, while supporting one’s abilities allows a bowler to bowl freely. For him, consistency at the highest level is non-negotiable, and regular exposure to international cricket plays a vital role in honing that consistency.
The spinner recalled his first international outings, admitting that the early struggles taught him valuable lessons. These experiences pushed him back to the practice nets, where he worked on technical corrections and mentality adjustments. Varun believes that playing against the best international batters clarifies areas for improvement and helps players understand where they really stand.
“Sometimes it works, and fortunately in the last three matches it has worked well. I will try the same thing in the next match. It’s about mindset and skill. When you are not confident, your mindset affects your skill. The key is to stay confident and sustain your skills. That’s when you execute well, without much change. That’s the secret to being consistent. At this level, you have to be consistent; play higher level is important to know where you stand. In my first match at international level, I struggled a bit at the beginning, and that’s when I understood some things, I went back to training and made corrections. So it’s very important to continue playing at the highest level. Varun added.
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