In a move that has surprised fans and game experts alike, Indian mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has named his dream T20 playing XI and left out two of India’s most celebrated batters, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Chakarvarthy revealed his all-time T20 playing XI lineup during an interview with Ravichandran Ashwin on his YouTube show Kutti Stories with Ash. Varun picked the top batters but left out “RO-KO” as when asked to pick his all-time playing XI, it came with a condition that he could only pick players he has played with during his career.
While Kohli and Rohit have been the backbone of India’s T20 Success over the years, Varun opted for an explosive opening duo of England’s Jos Buttler and Australia’s Travis Head. Known for their fearless batting, both players can dismantle any bowling attack within a matter of overs. Later at no 3, he selected India’s current T20I Captain Suryakumar Yadav, often called the most dynamic T20 Batter of this generation. West Indies’ Nicholas Pooran and South Africa’s Heinrich Klassen, he chose these dangerous power-hitters for the middle order.
Adding more to the all-rounders, Varun included Hardik Pandya, Andre Russell, and Sunil Narine. These players can hit big runs and also bowl important overs, providing the team with more balance. For bowling, he picked Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan as the only specialist spinner. In the fast-bowling department, the Tamil Nadu spinner picked the iconic Jasprit Bumrah and the enigmatic Matheesha Pathirana.
Varun Chakaravarthy Dream T20 XI:
Travis Head, Jos Buttler, Suryakumar Yadav, Nicholas Pooran, Heinrich Klaasen, Andre Russel, Hardik Pandya, Rashid Khan, Sunil Narine, Jasprit Bumrah, Matheesha Pathirana.
Varun’s Dream XI looks like it’s built for modern T20 Cricket. It has batters with explosive hitting abilities and bowlers who can take crucial wickets with top-quality fielders to back them up. His choice of players shows that he really understands the games and thinks like a strategist.
VARUN CHAKARAVARTHY PICKS HIS DREAM T20 11 🥶
[Rule – Players he has played with] pic.twitter.com/TaMwAYtuw9
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 30, 2025
Why No RO-KO in the Dream Playing T20 XI
Varun’s decision to keep Rohit and Kohli out of the dream T20 XI has surprised many. As both players have been legends in T20 Cricket and have also led India to big wins for years. But before picking his best XI, he had one rule that he could only pick players with whom he had actually played. Instead of going with reputation, he chose ultra-aggressive, modern hitters like Jos Buttler and Travis Head to open and players who fit today’s fast-paced T20 Style perfectly.
