Will India continue with Varun Chakravarthy in Final after Worst Bowling effort?

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The 2nd Semi-Final between India and England witnessed a batting carnage as India neutralized the England challenge by 7 runs to book their place in the T20 World Cup 2026 Final.

In a match where the bat reigned supreme, India's mammoth total of 253/7, the highest ever in a World Cup knockout was barely enough to hold off a relentless English chase. Despite a maiden T20I century from England's Jacob Bethell (105), the Indian pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya displayed nerves of steel in the final overs to silence the English threat. While the victory ignited nationwide celebrations, it also left the Indian team management with a massive tactical headache ahead of the final, the form of mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy.

In a tournament where he was expected to be India's trump card, Varun Chakravarthy endured a nightmarish outing at the Wankhede. The spinner was taken to the cleaners, returning figures of 1/64 in his 4 overs, marking the most expensive spell ever by an Indian in T20 World Cup history.

Chakravarthy's performance against England has placed him at the summit of an unwanted list. He now shares the record for the joint second-most expensive returns in T20 World Cup history, narrowly escaping the top spot occupied by USA's Saurabh Netravalkar, who conceded 0/65 against India earlier in this very tournament.

Most Expensive Returns in T20 World Cups

0/65 - Saurabh Netravalkar (USA) vs IND, Mumbai, 2026
0/64 - Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) vs PAK, Johannesburg, 2007
1/64 - Varun Chakravarthy (IND) vs ENG, Mumbai, 2026
0/63 - Mashrafe Mortaza (BAN) vs PAK, Mirpur, 2014
1/62 - Richard Ngarava (ZIM) vs IND, Chennai, 2026

When looking at Indian T20I history as a whole, Chakravarthy's spell is the joint-second most expensive ever for India. He joins Yuzvendra Chahal, who leaked 0/64 against South Africa in 2018, both trailing only Prasidh Krishna, who holds the national record with 0/68 against Australia in 2023.

The Ahmedabad Question: Will Varun Chakravarthy Play the Final?

The Wankhede pitch was a graveyard for bowlers, as evidenced by Jofra Archer also conceding 61 runs. However, the drop in Chakravarthy's efficacy since the Super-8 stage is a concern; he has leaked 186 runs in his last four matches at an economy of 11.62.

As India movee to the more spacious Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad for the final against New Zealand, the management faces a choice. India is likely to continue backing Varun Chakravarthy despite a poor, high-cost bowling spell in the 2026 T20 World Cup, with management maintaining faith in his status as a premier spinner. With New Zealand's Finn Allen in devastating form, the decision could be the difference between a second consecutive title and a heartbreaking finish.