Varun struggled for form and fitness during the England T20I, getting ruled out before the 4th match.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has suggested that BCCI selectors need to start preparing a backup for Varun Chakaravarthy after the T20I series defeat against England. India suffered an embarrassing 0-4 loss in the five-match series.
Pathan suggested the name of 20-year-old spinner Yash Raj Punja, who hails from Karnataka and has played IPL cricket for Rajasthan Royals. Punja is inexperienced, with only 8 T20Is under his belt and 9 wickets to his name, and all of these came in the recent IPL 2026 tournament.
India's bowlers, especially the spinners, had a difficult series because they were unable to establish pressure in the middle overs and limit the English batters.
Irfan Pathan believed the squad might look at Yash Raj Punja and train him for the future, as Varun Chakaravarthy was having trouble with form and fitness.
"As soon as Varun has struggled with his form, India has struggled. We saw it in the World Cup as well. He plays an important role, and you need another bowler like him. I think you need a bowler who can do something in the game. I will just put a name forward for now, someone like Yash Raj Punja. He is not ready at the moment. But I feel India should start the process of preparing a bowler like him," Irfan said on his YouTube channel.
Pathan also stated that India needs to develop more bowlers who can fill the gap left by Jasprit Bumrah when he is absent. Bumrah has been on rest after playing the T20 World Cup 2026 and the IPL 2026. He will be back in action when India plays England in a three-match ODIs series.
"If there is no Bumrah, no bowler will be born to replace him just like that. You will not get a player like him. But for what he does, you need someone who can do the same thing. Who can bowl in all phases? Not one; you need to prepare two bowlers like him. You do have options, but the thinking should be to get someone who can bowl in all phases. If you cannot get someone like Bumrah, then you need a spinner who can not only keep the batters quiet in the middle overs but also pick wickets," Irfan Pathan reflected.
Not only bowlers, but Indian batters fared no better. India couldn’t post a formidable total when they opted to bat first and couldn’t chase down targets in the second innings. India's bowlers, especially the spinners, had a difficult series because they were unable to establish pressure in the middle overs and limit the English batters.
"After winning the World Cup, when the season begins again, India goes overseas and struggles to win even one game. It is very painful. There were changes in the team. When there are changes in that World Cup-winning combination, no Bumrah, no Hardik, the leader is not the same; all these things are present. But the issue is much bigger. If the team does not give importance to it now, it will keep happening when we go overseas," he said.
Shreyas Iyer and Co. will next travel to Zimbabwe, where they will play a three-match T20I series.