Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane has thrown his full support behind star spinner Varun Chakravarthy ahead of IPL 2026, expressing confidence in the mystery bowler’s ability to bounce back strongly after a mixed T20 World Cup campaign. Varun’s numbers on paper still looked impressive—he finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker alongside Jasprit Bumrah with 14 scalps. However, the second half of the tournament told a different story.
The spinner struggled with control during the Super 8 stage and conceded heavily, including a tough outing in the semi-final against England where he leaked 64 runs. His economy rate of 9.25 raised concerns, eventually costing him the top spot in the ICC T20I bowling rankings. Despite that, Ajinkya Rahane made it clear that the team management sees no major issues in Varun’s approach. Speaking at KKR’s pre-season press conference, he emphasized that fluctuations are a natural part of a cricketer’s journey, especially in the demanding T20 format.
“When you play so much T20 cricket, phases like this are bound to happen. It’s similar to a batter going through a lean patch,” Ajinkya Rahane explained.
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He also highlighted the challenging role Varun plays within the team. Unlike many bowlers who operate in more controlled phases, Varun is often tasked with bowling during high-pressure situations—inside the Powerplay and against well-set batters in the middle overs.
“He’s bowling the toughest overs for us, trying to break partnerships and pick wickets when the game is on the line. There’s nothing wrong with what he’s doing,” Ajinkya Rahane added.
The KKR skipper believes the short break following the World Cup could prove crucial. According to him, the 10-day rest period has given Varun the opportunity to mentally reset and return with renewed clarity.
Importantly, Rahane stressed that the team will not burden the spinner with unrealistic expectations. “We don’t want to put that pressure on him. He has delivered consistently over the years,” he said.
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Varun remains a key figure in KKR’s setup, with 99 wickets to his name, making him one of the franchise’s leading performers. His partnership with Sunil Narine continues to be a cornerstone of KKR’s bowling strength, a combination that played a major role in their IPL 2024 triumph. As KKR gear up to face Mumbai Indians in their IPL 2026 opener on March 29, the team remains confident that Varun Chakravarthy will rediscover his rhythm and once again play a match-winning role.
