'Has to be spoken to'- R Ashwin's big claim on out-of-form Team India star ahead of T20 World Cup 2026 Final

Ravichandran Ashwin believes that someone from the Indian team needs to speak to Varun Chakaravarthy and help him get back to his best ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 final, which will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, March 8.

The former India spinner opined that team are better prepared to tackle Chakaravarthy's variations. He urged someone to have a conversation with his former Tamil Nadu teammate and tell him to mix things up a bit more to keep the batters guessing.

"What is happening with Varun is not that teams are attacking him or picking him. Everyone knows that Adil Rashid has a googly. This happens with every cricketer. But if this happens, you have to be tactical. You cannot miss the lengths. Line and length variations with speed variations are important. Varun has to be spoken to," he said on 'Ash ki Baat'.

Ashwin noted that Chakaravarthy's confidence takes a hit when he gets attacked upfront. He suggested that the mystery spinner should refrain from bowling from round the wicket to left-handed batters.

"Every time he gets attacked upfront, the confidence is going down further, because he knows he is catching up. I am tired of saying this again and again. From the last few games, I am saying this. Do not bowl from round the wicket to the left-hander," he added.

From now on, he has to rely on the finer aspects of spin bowling: Ashwin

Chakaravarthy has been guilty of firing in deliveries when he gets hit. Ashwin recalled that he also used the same tactic when he was put under pressure by the batters. However, he mentioned the importance of taking a pause and adapting to challenges. Ashwin also explained how the journey ahead could look like for the 34-year-old.

"I used to bowl a lot of deliveries quickly. But if I feel I wanted a pause, I would take it. This is about awareness. The toughest thing is about adapting and responding to tough situations. Every day will not be good and bad days will keep coming. This blip is new to Varun. So those who are around him, what conversations they have are also critical. It isn't just about taking time too, you have to see what delivery you want to bowl. This is a very valuable lesson for him. Till now, he has relied on people not picking him. From now on, he has to rely on the finer aspects of spin bowling. This is a challenge and a journey," he explained.

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Some fans have questioned whether Kuldeep Yadav should come into the playing XI in place of Chakaravarthy for the final. However, Ashwin believes that India should stick with the out-of-form tweaker.

"Can Kuldeep come in for Varun? I think they will think about it, but it won't happen. They might think a lot about this. But I hope it does not happen, and I don't think so too," he said.