India spinner Varun Chakaravarthy talks about how head coach Gautam Gambhir brings a Spartan mentality to the team

Fresh off winning the Asia Cup with India, Varun Chakaravarthy on Tuesday was all praises for head coach Gautam Gambhir, saying that he had instilled a Spartan mentality in the team which leaves no room for mediocrity and where losing is not an option.

“I have already worked with him in the IPL and we won that (in 2024), so (there is) nothing new to me because I have already been around him. But definitely one thing which I can say about him is he brings a Spartan mentality to the team where there is no option of losing, you just have to bring (out) your best and give everything on the ground and later on, whatever happens, happens. When he is around, there is no mediocrity, you can’t be mediocre in the field, that’s what I feel,” Chakravarthy told reporters on the sidelines of the CEAT Cricket Rating awards.

The mystery spinner also credited India T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Gambhir for giving him a specific role on his comeback to the side which boosted his confidence.

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“When I made my comeback, Surya and GG (Gautam Gambhir), they told me that we are looking at you as one of the wicket-takers for the Indian team and they have backed me throughout. For that, I have to give them the credit,” he said.

“I was out of the team for more than three years, but I did have a consecutive good IPL (seasons). For them to recognise that and bring me in the team, was great for me. My role is to take wickets, keep attacking the stumps and nothing else. Take up the tougher job as in bowl in the powerplay, bowl one over in the death and two overs in the middle — that’s the role that they have given and I’m happy to do that,” Chakravarthy added.