'He always backed me when others ignored' - India spinner opens up on Gautam Gambhir's support

Published - 19 Aug 2025, 12:54 IST | Updated - 19 Aug 2025, 13:28 IST

Kolkata Knight Riders and Indian cricketer Varun Chakravarthy has recently revealed how Gautam Gambhir's backing helped him grow in confidence and eventually make a comeback in the national setip. Gambhir has been India's head coach since July 2024 and was also KKR's mentor during IPL 2024.

Chakravarthy also weighed in on how Gambhir's fearless approach as a mentor and head coach helped KKR and India on multiple occasions.

"Similarly, Gauti bhai has also helped me a lot in my comeback, the way he motivates me. Even if we talk little, he has always given me good confidence and he has always told that "no matter who's going to ignore you, I will keep you in my plans for now". So, that kind of gave me confidence. And if you ask about Gauti bhai as a mentor, then I would say he brings in a warrior mindset in the dressing room, which is very important and has worked for us at KKR and in the Champions Trophy," Chakravarthy was quoted as saying by RevSportz.

Chakravarthy also commented on Suryakumar Yadav being a 'bowler's delight' and the ways in which he is similar to Rohit Sharma as a captain.

"You give everything you have and it does not matter whether you win or you lose. And about Surya, he is someone very similar to Rohit Sharma - that is what I've seen. He is a very tactically sound, and maybe his time at MI has given him good exposure to great captains. He is a very good guy and never puts pressure on the bowlers. It would be a bowler's delight to have a captain like him," he added.

Chakravarthy had played six T20Is for India in 2021 and was dropped after this. He made a comeback to India's T20I setup in 2024 and performed quite well. Three of Chakravarthy's four ODIs came in the Men in Blue's title-winning run in the Champions Trophy 2025.

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In the Indian Premier League, Chakravarthy has played for KKR in every season barring 2019. He has picked 99 wickets in 83 matches for the three-time champions.