Irfan Pathan backs ace spinner to be Team India’s X-Factor in 2025 Asia Cup

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has backed Varun Chakravarthy to be India’s X-factor in the upcoming Asia Cup. Chakravarthy bagged nine wickets in three matches of the Champions Trophy 2025 and played a key role in India’s successful run in the tournament. He has also picked 33 wickets in 18 T20I matches for the country.

Furthermore, Varun bagged 21 wickets in 15 matches in IPL 2024 and played a key role in taking Kolkata Knight Riders to glory. Varun has all the variations under his belt and he would look to be at his best in the continental tournament.

Meanwhile, Varun had failed to deliver in the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai as he went wicketless in the three matches he played. Pathan said the mystery spinner will have an opportunity to redeem himself.

“To think of someone as the X-Factor apart from Bumrah is quite difficult. Then there is Hardik and Axar, and you always think of all-rounders being the X-Factor. I am eager to see how Varun Chakaravarthy performs, because it will be kind of like a redemption story for him,” Irfan Pathan said in a special interaction organized by Sony Sports Network.

“He was there in that 2021 WC in the UAE and he did not do well, so I will have an eye on him because he is in solid form now, and he is confident. So out of all these names, to choose one, I’ll go with Varun,” he added.

Pathan added that Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya are going to hold the key for India as all-rounders.

“We have two exceptional all-rounders (Axar and Hardik) that bat in the top seven, and when we have two such players that can give you four overs, you have the freedom to set any bowling combination that you want. When you have so many bowling options, you can add some serious depth to the batting, say even Dube can play at No. 8,” he said.

Pathan backed Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, and Abhishek Sharma to deliver the goods.

“Not necessarily at No. 8, but you have the option of shuffling the batting order. The final combination might be determined by the kind of pitches and dew, but I would go with Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, and Abhishek Sharma,” he added.

India will begin their Asia Cup campaign against the UAE on September 10.