Spinner Varun Chakravarthy said the Kolkata Knight Riders’ win over the Rajasthan Royals offered the clearest reminder of how quickly fortunes can swing for a bowler in T20 cricket. After producing a decisive Player of the Match display in Kolkata, Chakravarthy looked back at a difficult run and explained that leaks are often unavoidable when the pitch offers little assistance. He also dismissed any “outside noise” affecting his rhythm, placing his recent struggles into context and insisting that inconsistency is simply part of a modern spinner’s journey.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Chakravarthy refused to draw sweeping conclusions from one strong outing. “Just because I took three wickets today doesn’t mean the story changes instantly,” he said. In his view, if the next surface has nothing for spin, that same problem will confront every spinner in the league. He pointed to how early in the contest the bowlers were also struggling for purchase, but suggested that once the pitch starts slowing down, the game naturally opens up for spinners and they become more effective. “It’s the nature of the game and we can’t change it,” he added.
Chakravarthy acknowledged that KKR’s uneven results and the criticism that comes with them can sometimes influence how a team approaches matches. Even so, he felt the side managed to execute better when it mattered most. “There could be many reasons because we haven’t been winning, and there’s a lot of outside noise that affects players,” he said. “But today we showed up as the better team and won the match.” He also highlighted that KKR began the tournament dealing with injuries that “crippled” the group before it even truly got going, and he used that backdrop to call for patience as the squad rebuilds.
In that context, Chakravarthy gave credit to the coaching staff and specifically mentioned head coach Abhishek Nayar. Taking charge under such circumstances, he said, requires courage and comes with a heavy workload. “It’s going to take some time for a build up,” he said, before adding that progress will come gradually. “Step by step, baby step—one win here, one win there—and we’ll be back on track.”
The spinner also described the emotional lift inside the dressing room, suggesting the victory resonated deeply with the group. Chakravarthy said he noticed tears from players, something he hadn’t seen in KKR’s title-winning season in 2024. “Very, very significant,” he said, describing what he witnessed in the aftermath of the result.
From a tactical standpoint, Chakravarthy stressed that his mindset remains aggressive whenever the surface provides even a hint of grip or turn. “If there is something in the pitch, I go back to my strength,” he said, explaining that attacking the stumps is his default advantage. But when the pitch offers nothing, he believes bowlers can easily get disoriented—confusion that can hit anyone, including the best in the business. “No one can be judged with just one match of good performance and bad performance,” he said.
Chakravarthy further suggested that both teams may have misread the wicket slightly, despite the modest total in the first innings. He said the track generally becomes slower as the match goes on, though he didn’t feel it slowed dramatically. “Today, I felt it was a 190 wicket,” he said, pointing out that both sides struggled with batting and pushed too hard for explosive shots. In his view, if batters had been more settled—putting their head down and building—there was a clear opportunity to reach a much higher score. Still, he underlined that the win itself was extremely important, especially as KKR look to take momentum into the later part of the season. “In the next half of the IPL, we are going to build upon the positives that we got in this match,” he said.
He also addressed how his bowling role has been discussed within the team, particularly around when he should start his overs. “There was a lot of discussion on when I can start bowling in the powerplay or after the powerplay,” he said. However, once he gets back into form, he feels more confident about his impact regardless of the exact timing. He noted that Sunny has been performing well in the powerplay as well, but said the plan will remain flexible. “I might bowl in the powerplay or Sunny will bowl in the powerplay,” he explained.
Chakravarthy reserved special praise for the coaching staff, crediting them for insulating the squad from criticism. “The main credit has to go to the coaching staff because they didn’t let the outside noise affect us,” he said. He pointed to the presence of many people making “baseless judgments,” adding that a strong internal group is needed to deal with that pressure. “We have a very strong core that supports us,” he said.
Injuries, too, have played a part in his inconsistent spell of form, and Chakravarthy revealed he has been managing multiple problems during the season. He said that before the first match, he fractured one finger, and in another game he fractured a different finger. With injuries to his left hand, he explained he couldn’t properly use it, which eliminated the possibility of normal fielding. “I’m still trying to manage but it is a little painful,” he said.
When asked whether changes in his bowling had affected results, Chakravarthy clarified that his core method remains unchanged. He said there was no alteration in pace and no shift in length when he was taking wickets. Instead, he described adjustments primarily in line—moving to different attacking channels. “I’m just changing the line. Line of attack,” he said, adding that he’s been working on a wider range of options, including lines away from the fourth-stump area and both off-side wide and leg-side wide lengths. “I have not changed anything,” he insisted.
Finally, Chakravarthy attributed his earlier struggles more to unhelpful conditions than to any technical shortcomings. “There was no mistake. The pitch was like this,” he said, also admitting he is very hard on himself and will always identify what went wrong if results don’t come. He argued that the surfaces earlier offered nothing for spinners, and because other spinners faced similar conditions, it wasn’t a problem unique to him. “It’s nice that there is something for the spinners now,” he said, while expressing hope that similar assistance will continue.
On whether Eden Gardens’ familiar conditions and home advantage were a deciding factor, Chakravarthy said adaptability is what matters most. He acknowledged that there has been debate about what kind of wicket will be prepared, but stated that KKR are prepared for whichever surface arrives. “We are ready for whatever wicket comes,” he concluded. “We are just open to play on any wicket.”
