Kolkata Knight Riders assistant coach Shane Watson hailed mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy after KKR’s win over Mumbai Indians, revealing that the 32-year-old is currently playing through pain. Watson said Chakaravarthy has been bowling despite a hairline fracture in his left foot, underscoring the franchise’s belief in his commitment as the season gathered momentum.
Injury timeline and Watson’s comments
- Watson praised Chakaravarthy’s courage, noting that while he is not fully sure how far along the spinner is in his recovery, he can clearly see the player is “playing through a bit of pain”.
- Chakaravarthy sustained the hairline fracture while fielding during KKR’s away match against Delhi Capitals on May 8.
- He then missed KKR’s next fixture against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 13.
- After KKR’s loss to RCB, Chakaravarthy returned for the following games against Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians, though he was not at full fitness.
Following the win versus MI, Watson explained what the injury situation meant for the spinner’s mindset and performance. He said it reflects both bravery and desire—Chakaravarthy wants to be available to contribute for KKR—and added that despite the discomfort, he was still delivering quality with the ball.
Form dip, then a late resurgence
Watson also pointed to Chakaravarthy’s struggles since the T20 World Cup. In the opening stretch of the IPL season, the spinner picked up no wickets in his first three matches while conceding 105 runs.
However, the pattern changed in the later phase. Chakaravarthy’s impact became a major factor in KKR’s resurgence, taking 10 wickets across four matches as the team found its rhythm in the business end of games.
Watson described the turnaround as “brilliant”, contrasting Chakaravarthy’s earlier-season form with the steady influence he has been able to create match after match. He also highlighted how fortunate KKR are to have a bowler with both the skillset and the hunger to play, stating that Chakaravarthy’s desperation to contribute has been evident throughout this phase.
In a further show of admiration, Watson added that given the pain Chakaravarthy was managing, he could have opted to step away and rest. Instead, the spinner stayed in the mix and continued to perform, which Watson said made the difference.
Watson concluded by acknowledging the game’s context as well, mentioning an unfortunate collision involving Angkrish Raghuvanshi. Despite that, he felt Chakaravarthy still delivered strongly, expressing gratitude for what the spinner continues to bring to KKR.
Why KKR still rely on him
Even with the turnaround, Chakaravarthy’s current returns have not perfectly matched the dominant form he has shown in the past. Earlier in the season, he struggled to find his rhythm and often looked less dangerous than usual, with batters appearing more prepared for his variations and his economy rate rising sharply.
Eventually, the recovery to form arrived: his control returned and he rediscovered his wicket-taking threat. Even now, while the numbers may not fully reflect his peak influence, he remains central to KKR’s bowling plans—particularly because his ability to break partnerships and apply pressure alongside Sunil Narine is part of the team’s core bowling identity.
