Axar Patel and Varun Chakaravarthy (PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: Even as questions mount over his form, India continue to look at Varun Chakravarthy as their potential match-winner – the ‘X-factor’ who could still swing the T20 World Cup final in their favour.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!The enigmatic spinner endured a difficult outing in India’s dramatic seven-run semi-final win over England at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, conceding 64 runs in four overs. But ahead of Sunday’s title clash against New Zealand in Ahmedabad, he has the team management and senior teammates behind him.
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India vice-captain Axar Patel revealed that the team had talks with Chakravarthy about staying mentally strong and sticking to his plans even when things don’t go his way.“We talked about it,” Axar said after the game. “We’ve played a lot of knock-out games and in those moments, mindset is very important. Yes, there’s skill and everything, but when you go running, don’t change your plan even if you’re getting hit on.”Axar emphasized that confidence remains the key for the world’s best T20 bowler.“You plan to put it on the stumps first and then suddenly you change the line. Yes, mistakes can happen in pressure situations. We keep telling him, ‘You’re an X-factor, believe in yourself.’ When it comes to the ball, it’s all about confidence,” he added.Chakravarthy’s struggles were most visible when England’s Jacob Bethell launched an aggressive attack, smashing three sixes in the spinner’s opening to take 42 runs off just 13 balls he faced during his blistering century.Despite the knock, Axar pointed out that Chakravarthy still managed a crucial goal.“If you look at it, even after being hit for a couple of sixes, he got the wicket of Jose Buttler. He’s the number one T20 bowler, he knows what he’s doing. It’s a mindset thing,” Axar said.With one match left in the tournament, Axar believes Chakravarthy could still pull off a dramatic turnaround.“We have one more game,” he said. “Maybe he will deliver the winning match in the final.”
