Kolkata Knight Riders kept their narrow route to the IPL 2026 playoffs alive with a win over Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens on Wednesday night, but the victory came with fresh injury concerns and plenty of resolve. KKR assistant coach Shane Watson said Varun Chakravarthy was “playing through a bit of pain” as the side navigated another must-win situation, while wicketkeeper-batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi admitted he suffered “dizziness” after a collision with Varun that ultimately ruled him out of batting.
Varun, who has formed a productive spin partnership with Sunil Narine, has been managing a hairline fracture in his left foot. Despite the setback, he has continued to feature for KKR for the majority of the season, showing up in pressure moments where points are hard to come by. Against MI, he didn’t take a wicket, yet kept the scoring under control by conceding just 28 runs across his four overs.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, which extended into Thursday after rain delays affected proceedings, Watson explained that the exact stage of Varun’s recovery was unclear to him in the moment. What he could confirm, however, was Varun’s commitment: “All I do know is he’s obviously playing through a bit of pain at the moment,” Watson said. He added that the willingness to continue contributing, even while managing discomfort, reflects Varun’s determination. Watson also praised the quality of Varun’s bowling, calling it “beautiful” despite the injury.
Watson further highlighted the turnaround Varun has produced over the course of the season. Early on, Varun struggled to make breakthroughs, ending his first three matches without a wicket and recording figures of none for 105. Since then, he has found a rhythm and has delivered consistent impact game after game. Watson stressed how important it has been for KKR to have a bowler of Varun’s skill available, especially at a time when the team needs results. He pointed out that Varun could have chosen to rest, but instead stayed all-in for the cause.
“So we’re very fortunate that he’s all in, and he’s done a brilliant job again tonight,” Watson concluded.
KKR’s decision to keep Varun involved has drawn attention beyond the dressing room, including from the BCCI. Even so, the board has left the franchise to manage the day-to-day balancing act between fitness and match demands. Devajit Saikia, the BCCI secretary, said that franchises handle player injuries and fitness, while doctors and workload planning are also monitored through the Centre of Excellence. However, once the IPL is underway, he suggested there is limited scope for external interference. “So far as IPL is concerned, franchises take care of the injuries and fitness of the players,” Saikia said. “Of course physios from CoE [BCCI’s Centre of Excellence] are also monitoring them, workload as well as plan on how to keep them fit.” He added that monitoring continues, but during the league stage the board cannot intervene in the same way it might in an Indian team context.
The match itself also carried a turning point in the field involving Varun and Raghuvanshi. In the 11th over of MI’s innings, Tilak Varma struck a Varun delivery hard, top-edging it and sending it towards Varun. Raghuvanshi, stationed behind the stumps, sprinted in to take the catch, but the attempt ended in contact between the two players. Varun had completed the catch and then dropped it as a result of the collision, while Raghuvanshi was left feeling the effects of the impact.
Varun finished the game wicketless, while Raghuvanshi walked off in the 14th over and did not return later to bat. Watson addressed what happened to Raghuvanshi after the incident, explaining the physical toll it took within moments. “Angkrish, unfortunately… he ran a long way to be able to try and get that catch,” Watson said. “And unfortunately the collision that he had with Varun Chakravarthy meant that he ended up having some neck pain, a bit of dizziness and a headache within a couple overs of that as well.” Watson also noted that Raghuvanshi had been eager to stay involved, but the injury meant he couldn’t finish the match, adding that KKR missed him from a batting perspective.
As KKR move forward, Varun’s rehabilitation will continue while the franchise prepares for its final league-stage fixture of the campaign. The next match is on Sunday against Delhi Capitals, and by then KKR will be hoping Raghuvanshi—currently their highest run-getter of the season—has recovered sufficiently to play. For a team still chasing slim playoff chances, both the availability of their spin spearhead and the return of a key batting option could prove crucial.
