‘Bowling too full or too short’:Piyush Chawla explains Varun’s poor form, urges India to ‘control emotions’ in home final

Piyush Chawla said that Varun Chakaravarthy was either bowling very full or short in a bid to explain the spinner’s dip in form in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026. India meet New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final on 8 March at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Varun is India’s highest wicket-taker in this edition with 13 wickets, but has proven to be very expensive since the Super 8 stage began. The mystery spinner’s economy rate has also taken a beating and reads 8.85 at this stage. ‘Bowling too full or too short’ Speaking on JioStar, Chawla, a part of the commentary panel in the T20 World Cup 2026, shared his thoughts on Varun’s struggles in recent games. “I feel sometimes when you get desperate or when you try to do too many things, you end up bowling too full, and that’s exactly what’s happening with Varun.” “His strength is to bowl that hard length, not the one that fast bowlers bowl, but for a spinner, the good length where the bounce is around knee-high. Because with his pace, if the batter is not picking him up from the hand, it becomes really difficult as he’s so quick off the surface,” Chawla added. The former Indian cricketer went on to explain why Varun has proven to be very expensive in recent matches in the T20 World Cup. Against England, Varun conceded 64 runs, the joint-worst by a bowler in T20 World Cup history alongside Saurabh Netravalkar. Despite having taken a wicket in every match so far in the T20 World Cup, Varun has proven to be very expensive, giving away atleast 11 runs every over. “When you are a little off radar, then you go for plenty, and this is what’s been happening with Varun Chakaravarthy in the last couple of games. Either he’s too full or too short, and with this kind of pace, it becomes easier for the batter to when the bounce is so true on the surface,” he said. Piyush Chawla urges Team India to ‘control emotions’ Chawla further stated that Team India should control their emotions in a high-octane final, as this, too in front of a packed home crowd. Ahmedabad has not been a very happy hunting ground for India when it comes to ICC matches in the last few years. The Men in Blue lost the 2023 ODI World Cup here after staying unbeaten for the whole tournament. Suryakumar Yadav and his men were defeated by South Africa in the Super 8 stage, thereby ending India’s winning streak of 17 matches in ICC white-ball events. On what is key to handling pressure in an ICC final at home, Chawla said, “You just have to go out there, control your emotions and express yourself. Because it’s very important when there are so many people around and so many think that you’re going to win the game. You are the favourites, and that tag also brings a little bit of pressure. “But you have to keep all those things aside. And the butterflies, if someone says they’re not there, is totally wrong. Once you enter the field and the whole crowd is behind you, cheering for you, gives you motivation. It’s the same feeling that you have to do something special. And when every player thinks that way, that we have to do something special, the whole team comes together,” he added. Chawla was part of India’s 2011 World Cup title-winning campaign, which was the second instance of a team winning the title at home after Sri Lanka’s 1996 triumph.