'One should save him...': Ravichandran Ashwin advises Suryakumar Yadav and Gautam Gambhir not to 'overexpose the mystery' of this star vs South Africa

Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin advised the management and T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav not not overexpose mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, considering the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. Looking at how Varun has made a habit of spinning a web around the opponents, Ashwin reckons that he and Kuldeep Yadav can make a formidable partnership, but the rest of the teams in the world should not get the opportunity to get familiar with their bowling.

Ashwin's advice to management

Chakravarthy has so far played 29 T20Is, where he picked up 45 wickets with a best figure of 5/17. The spinner is expected to play a crucial role in the upcoming T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. The Tamil Nadu spinner is currently in Cuttack for the first T20I against South Africa.

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Notably, India are scheduled to play a five-match T20I series against South Africa, which will start from December 9 and after that, the Men in Blue will play five T20Is against New Zealand next year, and this will serve as the dress rehearsal ahead of the World Cup, where India will look to defend their title.

“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,” said Ashwin on his YouTube channel ‘Ash Ki Baat’.

Don't expose Kuldeep and Varun in large quantities: Ashwin

Ashwin advised the management that spin duo Kuldeep Yadav and Chakravarthy should play together in the playing XI in the World Cup but the team can look to break this partnership in some matches ahead of the World Cup.

“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," said Ashwin.