Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane has defended the franchise’s decision to keep spinner Varun Chakravarthy in action despite injury concerns ahead of IPL 2026. Rahane said the call was taken only after consultations involving the KKR medical team, the physios from the BCCI’s National Cricket Academy, and the support staff working with India’s set-up.
Quick facts
- Rahane backed the choice to play Varun Chakravarthy during IPL 2026 despite concerns over an injury.
- Varun suffered a left-toe break after a straight hit from Ishan Kishan struck his boot on May 3 in Hyderabad.
- It was reportedly Varun’s third fracture of the season, following two earlier finger breaks.
- Rahane said the final involvement in the decision was left to the medical teams, while he focused on the player’s mindset and willingness to play.
- In KKR’s last league match against Delhi Capitals at Eden Gardens, Varun bowled his full quota and finished with figures of 1 for 35.
- KKR lost by 40 runs and ended a tough campaign that had already slipped out of their control.
- Rahane stressed that Varun wanted to play and that the physios believed his injuries would not worsen.
- Rahane also responded to questions about pressure on him during KKR’s poor season after the 2024 title.
Varun’s problem began after a straight ball from Ishan Kishan landed on his boot during KKR’s match in Hyderabad on May 3, resulting in a break to his left toe. The injury became a headline issue not only because of the recovery timeline, but also because it was said to be his third fracture of the season—coming after two earlier finger injuries—raising questions about how safely he could be managed.
Rahane on how the decision was made
Rahane insisted he did not step into the medical deliberations. Instead, he described his role as understanding the player’s mindset—whether Varun felt ready to compete and how large the risk looked from a broader perspective—while leaving the injury-risk evaluation to the professionals.
He explained that there were discussions among KKR physios, the BCCI NCA medical team, and the physios associated with the Indian team. Rahane said the specialists assessed that Varun’s condition would not be expected to deteriorate further if he played, even while acknowledging that health and fitness remain a priority and that injuries should not be aggravated.
The defence of the selection came after KKR’s last league outing against Delhi Capitals at Eden Gardens. Despite the toe injury, Varun completed his full bowling quota and returned figures of 1 for 35. KKR, however, fell short by 40 runs, bringing to an end a campaign that had been steadily slipping away from their control.
Rahane also pointed to the player’s own readiness as a key factor. He praised Varun’s eagerness to put the team first, while making it clear that there was at least one match where KKR had to give him rest because of significant pain—yet the spinner still communicated that he believed he could take the field.
“Varun was eager to play and he gets all the credit,” Rahane said, highlighting that the dialogue from the player carried a positive message for both the physios and the team. Rahane reiterated that while there had been moments requiring a break, Varun’s own communication was that he could compete, and that the injury-management group had concluded his injuries would not increase.
The context of the decision, Rahane suggested, extended beyond franchise cricket. Varun is also an important part of India’s plans in white-ball matches, meaning any injury management choices around him inevitably spill into a wider conversation about club versus country.
Rahane’s response, therefore, was framed as more than a one-off justification. It was also an effort to show that KKR’s approach was not made in isolation, with multiple medical groups weighing in before the spinner was asked to continue.
Rahane then addressed follow-up questions about the pressure on him during KKR’s disappointing season. The 2024 champions, after failing to find the rhythm they were expected to show, dealt with a mix of injuries and uneven form, along with missed moments that collectively hurt their progress through the league phase.
