Former India and Chennai Super Kings player Subramaniam Badrinath has sparked quite a debate in the cricketing fraternity with his recent assertion that mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy is more valuable than Jasprit Bumrah in T20 Internationals. He made these comments following India's victory in the five-match T20I series against Australia, where India won 2-1.

Badrinath applauded Chakravarthy's ability to deliver consistently and efficiently and pointed out how the spinner has become India's go-to weapon anywhere in the innings. The Tamil Nadu bowler took five wickets in three innings, making him India’s leading wicket-taker in the series. In comparison, Bumrah took three wickets but held a slightly better economy of 6.58 versus Chakravarthy's economy of 6.83 over the same matches.

The former CSK player observed that Chakravarthy’s comeback to the national squad after being released previously on fitness grounds is impressive. “Varun has reached another level. The numbers are telling us he is now the No. 1 T20 bowler. He can bowl in the powerplay, middle overs, or even the 18th over—that is his worth. He is India’s biggest asset in this format,” Badrinath said on Star Sports, as quoted by India Today.

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Varun is India’s secret weapon, says Badrinath

Badrinath continued to heap praise on the subject of Varun Chakravarthy, as he could be India’s ace up its sleeve in the upcoming T20 World Cup, to be held in India. Badrinath thinks that mysterious spin and the ability to bowl under pressure make Chakravarthy an important part of India’s T20 setup.

“Varun is a huge asset to India, a weapon. If he has a good day, India has a good day,” claimed Badrinath. Jasprit Bumrah will next be in action in a Test series against South Africa starting November 14, while Chakravarthy is set to play in the T20Is against the Proteas in December.

Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Subramaniam Badrinath found himself at the center of playful fan banter during a recent Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) match. Popular for his devotion to CSK, Badrinath has traditionally been loud about his allegiance to the five-time IPL title winners and has in the past taken good-natured shots at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for their extended run of not winning an IPL title.

Badrinath, who was with CSK from the 2008 season until 2013, was an important member of the side during its golden period, where he contributed to back-to-back IPL winning seasons in 2010 and 2011. He also lifted the Champions League Twenty20 title in 2010 with them, and he was a decorated member of the CSK early success story. Badrinath was a pleasant presence in the middle order, and he was a reliable performer under Dhoni's captaincy.

But on the day of the TNPL game, a group of RCB supporters chose to troll the ex-CSK legend, reminding him of RCB's recent victory in the 2025 IPL title. In good humor, Badrinath acknowledged the trolling and chanting by giving a thumbs-up, indicating he had taken the good-natured jibes sportingly. The moment soon went viral on social media, with supporters from both sides sharing the clip extensively.

A sporting response from a seasoned campaigner

Badrinath's act was applauded as an exercise in sportsmanship, and everyone admired the manner in which he responded to the trolling. Even in the intense CSK-RCB rivalry that exists, his cheerful and calm response brought forth the common respect and enjoyment that make up much of cricket culture in India. His thumbs-up did not just accept RCB's long-sought victory but also reflected grace and maturity.

Watch the video here

Here's the video of his humiliation.😂🤣 https://t.co/ePQ2crclkX pic.twitter.com/HmDbYRROMz

— ꪜ𝐢𝐧𝐨 (@vinoo_96) June 10, 2025

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As fan rivalries define the IPL storyline, these kinds of moments remind us of the good-natured aspect of the game. While Badrinath is a CSK die-hard, his encounter with RCB supporters at the TNPL reflected the camaraderie and respect that make cricket more than a sport.