Table of Contents
Here is a detailed head-to-head comparison of these two elite Indian spinners across all formats:
Career Overview
| Aspect | Kuldeep Yadav | Varun Chakravarthy |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 30 years (Born 1994) | 34 years (Born 1991) |
| Bowling Style | Left-arm Wrist-Spin (Chinaman/Googly) | Right-arm Mystery Spin (Googly/Carrom Ball) |
| International Debut | March 2017 (Test) | September 2021 (T20I) |
| Current Ranking | 23rd (T20I) | 1st (T20I) - Sept 2025 |
| Est. Net Worth | ?32 crore | ?8-10 crore |
| IPL Salary 2025 | ?13.25 crore (DC) | ?13.5 crore (KKR) |
Test Cricket Comparison
| Metric | Kuldeep Yadav | Varun Chakravarthy |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 24 | 1 |
| Wickets | 56 | 2 |
| Bowling Average | 22.2 | 54.0 |
| Economy Rate | 3.56 | 4.29 |
| Best Bowling | 5/40 | 1/105 |
| 5-Wicket Hauls | 5 | 0 |
| Strike Rate | 37.4 | 91.0 |
Test Verdict: Kuldeep dominates completely in Test cricket with 24 matches and 5 five-wicket hauls. He has established himself as a premier Test spinner for India, especially in recent years with his consistency and control. Chakravarthy has minimal Test exposure with just 1 match.?
ODI Cricket Comparison
| Metric | Kuldeep Yadav | Varun Chakravarthy |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 110 | 2 |
| Wickets | 181 | 2 |
| Bowling Average | 26.4 | 48.0 |
| Economy Rate | 4.99 | 5.60 |
| Best Bowling | 6/25 (vs England, 2018) | 5/42 |
| 5-Wicket Hauls | 2 | 1 |
| Fastest 100 Wickets | 58 innings (Indian record) | N/A |
ODI Verdict: Kuldeep is the clear leader with 110 ODI matches and 181 wickets. He holds the Indian record for being the fastest spinner to reach 100 ODI wickets (58 innings). Chakravarthy has played only 2 ODIs, though one was impactful with a 5-42 spell.?
T20I Cricket Comparison
| Metric | Kuldeep Yadav | Varun Chakravarthy |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 39 | 20 |
| Wickets | 69 | 35 |
| Bowling Average | 14.1 | 14.49 |
| Economy Rate | 6.77 | 6.83 |
| Best Bowling | 5/17 (vs South Africa) | 5/24 (vs England, Jan 2025) |
| 5-Wicket Hauls | 2 | 2 |
| Wickets in Last 10 T20Is | 25 | 27 |
T20I Verdict: This is the closest format comparison. After 19 T20Is each, Kuldeep had 37 wickets at 13.48 average while Chakravarthy had 34 wickets at 14.26 average. Recently, Chakravarthy has been exceptionally impressive—taking 27 wickets in his last 10 T20Is, including two five-wicket hauls. He achieved No. 1 ranking in September 2025, surpassing Kuldeep.?
IPL Cricket Comparison
| Metric | Kuldeep Yadav | Varun Chakravarthy |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 98 | 106 |
| Wickets | 109 | 138 |
| Bowling Average | 23.34 | 20.39 |
| Economy Rate | 8.01 | 8.23 |
| Best Bowling | 4/14 | 5/9 (Domestic) |
| Strike Rate | 25.4 | 18.7 |
IPL Verdict: Chakravarthy edges out Kuldeep in IPL wickets (138 vs 109) despite similar match counts. However, Kuldeep maintains competitive averages. Chakravarthy's mystery spin variations and economy make him more effective in the shortest format.?
5-Wicket Hauls Summary
Kuldeep Yadav Total: 9 Five-Wicket Hauls
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Test: 5 (5/40 vs West Indies being latest; equals Johnny Wardle's record)?
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ODI: 2 (6/25 vs England, 5/24 vs West Indies)
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T20I: 2 (5/17 vs South Africa, 5/24 vs England)
Varun Chakravarthy Total: 3 Five-Wicket Hauls
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Test: 0
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ODI: 1 (5/42)
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T20I: 2 (5/17 vs South Africa, 5/24 vs England)?
Economy Rate Analysis (All Formats)
| Format | Kuldeep Economy | Chakravarthy Economy |
|---|---|---|
| Test | 3.56 | 4.29 |
| ODI | 4.99 | 5.60 |
| T20I | 6.77 | 6.83 |
| IPL | 8.01 | 8.23 |
Both spinners maintain similar economy rates in T20I and IPL. Kuldeep is more economical in Test and ODI formats, while Chakravarthy is marginally better in powerplay situations in T20s.?
Recent Form & Impact
Kuldeep Yadav:
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Member of 2024 T20 World Cup-winning team and 2025 Champions Trophy
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Recently took 5/82 in Test vs West Indies (Oct 2025)
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Consistent across all formats with 110 ODI matches
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Ranking: 23rd in T20I bowling
Varun Chakravarthy:
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Achieved World No. 1 T20I bowler ranking (September 2025)
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Spectacular comeback with 27 wickets in 10 T20I matches
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Took 14 wickets and Player of Series vs England in 2024
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Breaking Kuldeep's records in recent T20I stretch
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Ranking: 1st in T20I bowling (as of Sept 2025)?
Overall Comparison Verdict
Format-Wise Excellence:
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Test Cricket: Kuldeep (5 five-wicket hauls, proven consistency)
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ODI Cricket: Kuldeep (181 wickets, fastest to 100 wickets milestone)
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T20I Cricket: Chakravarthy (current form and world No. 1 ranking)
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IPL Cricket: Chakravarthy (138 wickets, better average)
Head-to-Head in T20I (Last 10 Matches): Chakravarthy (27 wickets at 10.96 average vs Kuldeep's recent form)?
Career Overall: Kuldeep Yadav remains the more accomplished spinner with extensive international experience across all formats (56 Test wickets, 181 ODI wickets), while Varun Chakravarthy has emerged as a dynamic force in limited-overs cricket, particularly T20Is, with his mystery spin variations and current world No. 1 ranking reflecting his exceptional recent performances
