India put on a fantastic display of spin bowling in the ICC Champions Trophy final against New Zealand, with Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav stealing the spotlight. The spin duo effectively kept the Kiwis in check during the first innings, taking key wickets at crucial moments after New Zealand started strong. They teamed up to grab three quick wickets, with Chakaravarthy taking out Will Young and Kuldeep dismissing Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson. Chakaravarthy later returned to claim Glenn Phillips as well.

This performance led to some fans dubbing them the second ‘KulCha’ combo. Legendary Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh even compared their partnership to his own with Anil Kumble.

Harbhajan, who boasts 711 international wickets, expressed confidence in the potential of this duo, suggesting they could rival his partnership with Kumble in white-ball cricket success for India.

“They have the potential to become a partnership that wins India many matches in the future. They could surpass what Anil Kumble and I achieved,” Harbhajan remarked during his commentary for Star Sports Hindi.

Kumble and Harbhajan are among the most successful spinners in Indian cricket history. Kumble, nearing 1000 wickets, remains the top wicket-taker for India in both Tests and ODIs, while Harbhajan ranks in the top five for both formats.

Harbhajan shares what’s contributed to Kuldeep and Varun’s success

Bhajji, as he's commonly called in the cricket world, shared his thoughts on why this duo has been so successful for India in the Champions Trophy.

“They definitely have what it takes to reach that level. No doubt about it, since they’re both young enough to play together for years and only get better. It’s still early in their careers.”

Chakaravarthy will be turning 34 later this year, but since he started his professional journey a bit late, he still has plenty of time to be a key player for India. On the other hand, Kuldeep Yadav just hit the big 3-0 in December. Plus, spin bowling tends to be a bit more forgiving compared to pace bowling.

Harbhajan also pointed out that both bowlers have an aggressive style, which makes them a formidable pair, especially in favorable conditions.

“Both are aggressive bowlers, and that’s what makes their partnership strong,” Harbhajan noted. “Kuldeep and Varun go for the stumps and have that element of surprise that keeps batters guessing whether the ball is coming in or moving away.”

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