Former South Africa captain Shaun Pollock has highlighted Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy as potential game-changers in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 clash against South Africa. The two finalists of the 2024 edition face off again on February 22 in Ahmedabad, and Pollock feels India’s pace-spin duo could provide the subtle edge needed in a closely matched contest.
Speaking at the SuperSport ICC T20 Men’s World Cup Round Table, Pollock emphasized that while both teams have players capable of matching each other, Bumrah’s unorthodox pace and death bowling, combined with Varun’s ability to control the middle overs, make India’s bowling stand out. “Bumrah is very unorthodox… his death bowling is pretty exceptional. And then who controls the middle overs for them? Chakaravarthy… he is a guy who can dictate to any batsman at the crease,” Pollock said.
Statistics reinforce Pollock’s assessment. In 21 matches played together, Varun Chakravarthy has taken 30 wickets compared to Bumrah’s 22. In the 2026 T20 World Cup, Varun has been one of India’s standout performers, claiming nine wickets in four matches at an average of 6.88 and an economy rate of 5.16. Bumrah, meanwhile, has maintained control in the powerplays and at the death, taking four wickets in the group stage with an economy of around six.
While India’s bowling also features depth with Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, and Hardik Pandya, Pollock suggests the Super 8 clash may hinge on South Africa’s ability to handle the rare skill sets of Bumrah and Varun. As fans eagerly anticipate the match, the outcome could well be defined by these two bowlers’ ability to dictate the flow of the game.
