IND vs SA 2025: ‘We shouldn’t overexpose Varun Chakaravarthy ahead of 2026 T20 World Cup’ – ODI World Cup winner

The legendary Ravichandran Ashwin said that India should try not to overexpose Varun Chakaravarthy and keep his mystery intact, especially with the T20 World Cup being a couple of months away. India are set to play five T20Is against South Africa this month and five more against New Zealand in January. However, Ashwin advised the team management not to play Chakaravarthy in all the games.

According to Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav is another spinner who should not be played too often. He suggested that neither of them should play all the games against South Africa and New Zealand, as these teams can face the Men in Blue in the knockouts.

“We shouldn’t overexpose Varun Chakaravarthy. We shouldn’t do that. One should save him. We will be playing against South Africa and New Zealand, and we can possibly play against these teams in the T20 World Cup. Varun’s mystery is a big factor. He has been playing for many years, but he’s still able to hold his own,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel, Ash Ki Baat, on the eve of the first T20I between India and South Africa in Cuttack.

“But exposing both Kuldeep and Varun in large quantities is something I’ll refrain from. I think eventually they have to play together in the World Cup, but not overexposing the mystery of Varun, because these teams can face us in the knockouts of the T20 World Cup,” Ashwin said.

Chakaravarthy has been in sensational form in the shortest format since his international comeback last year. In his last 23 T20Is, the Tamil Nadu spinner has picked up 43 wickets.

“Don’t give them enough time to figure him out. The more they play against him, they will also have a chance of figuring it out. Mystery should remain mystery,” he added.

The first T20I between India and South Africa will be played at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Tuesday, December 9.