New Delhi, Dec. 29 -- Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has hailed mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy as India's standout bowler of the year, calling him a huge MVP whose impact has been evident every time the team has turned to him.

"I will pick Varun Chakravarthy as India's bowler of the year. He was a huge MVP. Whenever the team used him, he showed that X-factor. People have found it hard to pick him," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel Ash ki Baat.

"His fortunes will be very key to India's chances at the 2026 T20 World Cup as well. Secondly, he is a T20 bowler," he noted.

Ashwin also reflected on Chakravarthy's remarkable journey back to the top after being sidelined earlier in his career.

"He was out of the side, then he...