Mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, who played a key role in India’s Champions Trophy 2025 triumph, has expressed his love for Test cricket while also acknowledging his limitations to play in the longest format.

Chakaravarthy has been on a rapid rise ever since his return to international cricket in October 2024. His brilliance in T20Is prompted the selectors to include him in the ODI squad for the home series against England last month.

Chakaravarthy went to the Champions Trophy with one ODI match under his belt but he performed like a seasoned campaigner in the ICC tournament, claiming nine wickets in three matches, which included crucial spells in the knockout fixtures.

“I do (have an interest in Test cricket), but my bowling style doesn’t suit Test cricket,” Varun said while speaking in a podcast with Gobinath on his YouTube channel.

“Mine is almost like medium pace. In Test cricket, you’ve to continuously bowl 20-30 overs. I can’t do that in my bowling. Since I bowl quick, the maximum I can bowl is 10-15 overs which is not suited for red ball. I am focusing on 20 overs and 50 overs white ball cricket for now,” he added.

The Tamil Nadu spinner also asserted that he has no regrets leaving pace bowling for spin. Varun Chakaravarthy began his cricketing career as a wicketkeeper, then during his college days, he was a fast bowler but an injury-induced decision of taking up spin bowling led him to play for India.

On being asked whether he rues leaving pace bowling, Varun said: “No. That’s why I am here. I would’ve been stuck there had I bowled pace. There are so many pacers. Also, it doesn’t swing in Tamil Nadu wickets. They are spin-friendly wickets. So you can’t see many fast bowlers from Tamil Nadu. It is very rare. There is Balaji and Natarajan but there are many pacers in other states. I am happy that I left fast bowling. Even (Ravichandran) Ashwin became a spinner after leaving fast bowling. So I am happy.”