Overview:
Varun Chakravarthy has taken 99 wickets for KKR, making him the franchise’s third-highest wicket-taker, and his partnership with Sunil Narine was pivotal in KKR’s 2024 IPL title win.
KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane expressed confidence of Varun Chakravarthy’s return to form ahead of the IPL 2026 season. The spinner faced a challenging second half of the T20 World Cup 2026, even though he ended the tournament with 14 wickets.
Varun struggled with his economy from the start of the Super 8 stage, conceding 64 runs in the semi-final against England. Despite finishing with 14 wickets, his economy rate of 9.25 raised concerns, and he also lost his top position in the ICC T20I bowling rankings. Rahane, however, defended the spinner, saying Varun was still executing his plan to take wickets in matches.
Kolkata Knight Riders skipper also welcomed the break following the T20 World Cup, saying it provided Varun with an opportunity to reset and prepare for the upcoming season.
“When you play T20 cricket for a long time, these ups and downs are natural. It’s similar to a batsman going through a lean patch. That’s just part of the game,” he said.
“I feel with Varun, it’s important to remember he’s played a lot of T20 cricket over the last year. Naturally, opposition teams will try different strategies against him. Sometimes the conditions don’t suit his bowling style. We also have to recognize that he’s often bowling the toughest overs for the team, especially in the Powerplay,” he added.
Varun Chakravarthy has taken 99 wickets for KKR, making him the franchise’s third-highest wicket-taker, and his partnership with Sunil Narine was pivotal in KKR’s 2024 IPL title win.
Rahane stressed that the team will not put pressure on Varun and acknowledged that even top performers can have occasional off days.
“He’s bowling during stages when two batters are already settled, and he’s tasked with taking crucial wickets. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with him. He also had a good 10-day break after the World Cup, which is often what a player needs. The great thing about team sports is that if Varun has an off day, someone else can step up,” he said.
“We don’t to pressurise Varun. He’s consistently delivered year after year, so there’s nothing to worry about.
“Sometimes it’s about the conditions or just the timing. There’s always an expectation for him to take wickets. Every player goes through phases where they’re putting in the effort, preparing well, but things just don’t click on the field.
“I believe in the World Cup, the opposition batters performed exceptionally well, and they deserve credit rather than focusing on Varun. As a team, we have a lot of confidence in him. Both as captain and as a group, we aren’t concerned,” Rahane concluded.
KKR will play their first match against Mumbai Indians on March 29.