Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) spinner Varun Chakravarthy has a new variation up his sleeve. He believes the successful execution of it in the ongoing IPL could keep him in fray for selection in India’s squad for this year’s T20 World Cup in Australia.

“I do have personal goals. I’m working towards a new variation and looking to bowl more of it. If it clicks, it will definitely add a new dimension to my game,” the 30-year-old leg-spinner said on Thursday.

Talking further about the new variation, Chakravarthy added: “I’m working on a leg-spin. In fact, I’ve been working on it over the last two years. I’ve bowled it as well in a few matches and got a wicket with that as well.

“It’s just that I need to be a little more confident about it and start bowling it more.”

Before this IPL, Chakravarthy had no game time at all since making his India debut in the T20 World Cup last year, where he went wicketless in the three matches (versus Pakistan, New Zealand and Scotland) he had played. He was sidelined by a calf-injury and had to head to the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore for recovery.

“It (the injury) has been resolved. I can take the field without any pain-killers. I’m feeling fitter and being able to bowl better now,” Chakravarthy said.

So far in this IPL, Chakravarthy hasn’t been too successful, having taken just four wickets in five matches. He even took a pounding against David Warner and Rishabh Pant in KKR’s previous game versus Delhi Capitals last Sunday when they were beaten comprehensively.

Does that mean batsmen are able to read him better now? “This is bound to happen. People will have plans against me. Just the way it is,” Chakravarthy said.

“Last year in the first phase of the IPL, I had six to seven wickets in the first seven matches. Later on, I went on to pick up more wickets. So you cannot really predict how many wickets you are going to get.”

The pitches in use so far in this IPL have been extremely in favour of batsmen on most occasions. Chakravarthy, though, doesn’t want to complain about it.

“Well, it’s all about sticking to my basic plan and sticking to my strengths rather than focusing on the batsmen. The focus rather has to be on changing my mental set-up,” he said.

“So I can’t complain much about it and need to find a way to adapt better to situations.”