Varun Chakaravarthy opens up about his preparations for T20 World Cup 2026

Varun Chakravarthy (Pic: X/@BCCI)

Team India spinner Varun Chakaravarthy said that his preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 are based on backing his lengths, maintaining confidence and constantly challenging himself even in the matches that appear to be straightforward.

"It is very important to keep putting pressure on yourself to get ready for the World Cup. You have to challenge yourself even when there is no challenge. If a match feels easy, you have to create that pressure mentally and start challenging yourself. Confidence, bowling the right lengths, and understanding the opposition are key. That is one major factor I want to take into the World Cup. With a better understanding of the opposition, I think I can do well," he said on JioHotstar.

So far, he has made 32 T20I appearances for the "Men in Blue" and has bagged 51 wickets. His best bowling figures in the format are five wickets for 17 runs.

The 34-year-old spinner's role will be crucial in India's title defence leading to the global showpiece. The marquee event is scheduled to be played in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2026.

Chakaravarthy also revealed his plan by saying that he focuses on bowling at the right length.

"My plan is simple, stick to the basics and bowl my length. Sometimes it works, and thankfully in the last three matches, it has worked well. I will try the same in the next match," he said.

"When you are not confident, your mindset affects your skill. The key is to stay confident and back your skills. That is when you execute well, without much change. That is the secret to being consistent. At this level, you must be consistent, playing at the highest level is important to know where you stand," he added.

The Karnataka-born cricketer then recalled the first match in which he represented India and said that he understood the mistakes and worked on them during the practice sessions.

"In my first match at the international level, I struggled a bit initially and that's when I understood a few things. I went back to practice and made corrections. So, it is very important to keep playing at the highest level," concluded Chakaravarthy.

He will now feature in the fifth and final T20I match between Team India and South Africa. The match is scheduled to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 19.

Currently, the "Men in Blue" are leading the five-match T20I series 2-1 and will aim to secure a win in Ahmedabad to seal the series.

(With PTI Inputs)