The good length delivery is key to taking wickets in T20 cricket, Varun Chakaravarthy’s success proves it

Most productive deliveries: Googly (43 wickets) and leg break (9 wickets)

The Indian spinner, the No.1-ranked T20I bowler, is the top wicket-taker in this cycle. Varun’s ability to consistently bowl on the good length, varying his speed and mixing his leg-spinners and googlies makes it a daunting task for the batters to pick him. His precision and control mean he can operate in difficult phases of the game.

Jacob Duffy, New Zealand

Total wickets taken: 47| Wickets from good length: 20|Economy: 6.6

Most Productive deliveries: in swingers (15 wickets) and out swingers (13 wickets)

He is the lone pacer in a list dominated by wrist spinners and also the only fast bowler in the top four (4th) in the ICC rankings. Duffy can swing the ball both ways and has become the spearhead of the Kiwi attack in the post-Trent Boult-Tim Southee era. Good with the new ball, he is also a death bowling specialist, delivering slower ones and toe-crushing yorkers.

Wanindu Hasaranga, Sri Lanka

Total wickets taken: 41| Wickets from good length: 20|Economy: 5.5

Most productive deliveries: googly (21 wickets) and leg break (17 wickets)

The leg-spinner, with his ability to execute the variations accurately and with a quick action, is hard to pick for the batters. Sri Lanka, similar to Chakarvarthy for India, have often deployed him in the tougher powerplay overs or in the final phase of the innings when batters are on a hitting spree.

Abrar Ahmed, Pakistan

Total wickets taken: 38| Wickets from good length: 29|Economy: 6.6

Most productive delivery: Googly (19 wickets) and carrom ball (15 wickets)

The Harry Potter look-alike mystery spinner from Pakistan does weave a bit of magic with his fingers to bamboozle the batters. His overs through the middle have proved to be a headache for the batters to score off, as the Australian batters who have faced him recently found out. Pakistan’s games are in Sri Lanka where the spinners do have a bit of say, plays into his hands.

Note: While Duffy (11 wickets), Hasaranga (13 wickets), and Abrar (6 wickets) have their next best lengths as the fuller ones, Chakarvarthy (24 wickets), interestingly, has shorter length as his next most wicket-producing length.

Stats credit: Cricket21

Tanishq Vaddi is a Sports Writer with the online team of The Indian Express, based in Hyderabad. He primarily covers cricket and is known for his in-depth analysis and technical reporting on the game. Professional Background Role: He covers a wide range of cricketing action, including international matches (Tests, T20Is), domestic tournaments (Challenger Trophy), and major cricket leagues (IPL, WPL). Education: Tanishq holds a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from MVSR Engineering College and a PG Diploma in English Journalism (Print) from the Asian School of Journalism. Experience: Before joining The Indian Express in late 2022, he gained experience covering the startup ecosystem at YourStory and worked as a copywriter at Story Digital. Key Areas of Coverage Tanishq’s writing often focuses on the technical and psychological aspects of cricket. His notable work includes: Technical Analysis: Explaining bowling actions (e.g., Simon Harmer’s bounce) and batting techniques (e.g., Ben Duckett’s sweep shot). Interviews: He has interviewed prominent figures such as former England player Nick Knight, bowling coach Rajib Datta, and mental health coach Paddy Upton. Statistical Comparisons: Detailed career analysis, such as comparing Shubman Gill’s early career stats with legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. Regional Cricket: Reporting on developments in South Indian cricket, including the appointment of Gary Stead as the head coach for Andhra. Notable Recent Articles "IND vs SA 2nd Test: How did Simon Harmer beat Yashasvi Jaiswal with bounce?" (Nov 2025) "2026 Under-19 World Cup: Bowling coach outlines India's preparation" (Nov 2025) "Nick Knight interview: Joe Root will score big runs in Australia" (Nov 2025) "Gary Stead appointed as head coach for Andhra for the 25/26 season" (Sept 2025) "Jason Gillespie explains what makes Jasprit Bumrah and Pat Cummins so special, and why reverse swing will be key with Kookaburra ball" You can follow his latest reports on the Indian Express website or via his Twitter handle @TanishqVaddi. ... Read More

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