Kolkata’s talismanic spin-bowling duo – Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine – will once again be under focus as Kolkata looks to begin their title defense in style.
Speaking ahead of the IPL opener, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy said that he was looking forward to the battle against Virat Kohli in the first game of the season. Varun Chakravarthy, who has been in sensational form since his comeback to the national team, would be riding high on confidence. Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders take on Royal Challengers Bangalore in the first match of the Indian Premier League on Saturday, March 22.
Varun Chakravarthy’s cricketing years a glimpse
Varun Chakravarthy’s breakthrough came in the 2017-18 season when he made an impression in Tamil Nadu’s domestic circuit. Playing for Jubilee Cricket Club in a one-day tournament, he picked up 31 wickets in just seven matches. Varun Chakravarthy unorthodox mystery spin became his unique selling point, baffling batsmen with an arsenal of variations.
Varun Chakravarthy refined his skills further in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), where he played a key role in Madurai’s title-winning campaign. His performances did not go unnoticed, and soon, IPL scouts took an interest in him.
In 2019, Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) secured him for a staggering Rs 8.4 crore in the IPL auction. However, the much-anticipated breakthrough turned into another setback as injuries and inconsistency hampered his season. For a moment, it seemed as if his long-awaited opportunity had slipped through his fingers.
But Varun Chakravarthy was no stranger to comebacks. In 2020, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) took a chance on him, and this time, he delivered. With 17 wickets, including a remarkable five-wicket haul against Delhi Capitals, he became one of the tournament’s standout performers. His performances earned him a national call-up for India’s tour of Australia, though a fitness issue delayed his debut. When he finally got his chance in 2021, he proved his mettle on the international stage.
Varun Chakravarthy played three matches for India but failed to take even a single wicket. He was part of India’s bowling line-up in their infamous 10-wicket loss to Pakistan in Dubai — India’s first-ever defeat to Pakistan in a World Cup fixture. Varun Chakravarthy made a stunning return to international cricket in October 2024 after a three-year hiatus, following a successful stint in the Indian Premier League with KKR during their victorious campaign last year.
Varun Chakravarthy has picked up 31 wickets since his comeback in the T20I format. The spinner has struck at a mind-boggling strike rate of 8.9 in his last 12 games and is riding high on confidence. The spin duo of Varun and Narine is a dangerous prospect for any team in the tournament. And considering that both players are confident after winning the title last season, it might just add more zip to their bowling on Saturday.
Since his comeback, Varun Chakravarthy has been in fine form, with his T20I heroics earning him a spot in India’s Champions Trophy squad. The mystery spinner made his mark in Dubai, taking nine wickets in three matches, including a five-wicket haul in a group-stage game against New Zealand.
In the semi-final against Australia, Varun Chakravarthy took the crucial wicket of Travis Head to help India overcome their long-standing rivals. In the final, he claimed two wickets against New Zealand as Rohit Sharma’s men lifted the trophy on Sunday, 9 March.
Having exorcised his demons in Dubai during the Champions Trophy, Varun Chakravarthy described India’s triumphant campaign as an unbelievable experience. The spinner had only made his ODI debut in January during a home series against England before being called up for the Champions Trophy. He initially warmed the bench against Bangladesh and Pakistan before cementing his place in the XI.
However, it was not always easy going for Varun Chakravarthy. The star spinner is now enjoying some good form and has expressed himself to perform and continue with the form in IPL 2025 too.
KKR star spinner Varun Chakravarthy shares his views on RCB ahead of their 1st encounter in IPL 2025
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) may have a new captain and a different-looking coaching staff, but the defending champions can repeat their performance of last season. That’s Varun Chakravarthy’s view one day before the start of their IPL 2025 campaign, though he remains cognisant of the fact that last season’s success is now in the past.
“We will look to defend [the title] and we have a great squad and great batsmen too,” Varun said on the eve of the tournament opener in Kolkata. We have added Quinton de Kock, Anrich Nortje, Spencer Johnson, Moeen Ali and Roman Powell and we have a great international core this time.
“If you saw last year, we had huge victories and huge losses also in certain matches. Every match is different in the IPL. As experts say, you have to take it as a new tournament and start from scratch,”
Varun Chakravrathy warns Virat Kohli ahead of high octane clash
Varun Chakravarthy, who had the second-most wickets in IPL 2024, said that finding success against Virat Kohli in the tournament opener would give him extra joy. Varun Chakravarthy has bowled to Kohli in seven innings so far, containing him successfully with only 40 runs conceded in 39 balls. Kohli has been dismissed only once by Varun though. To change that, Varun says he has done some homework, but it’s not limited to Kohli.
“I’ve done just the same preparation I did last year,” Varun said.
“Definitely excited to be coming up against Virat bhai. Obviously, he has batted well against me and I would want to do well against him.
“Anyone at this level, you cannot think of it as an easy opposition. Every team in the IPL is as good as the other one. RCB have a quality team, but we have done our homework. I have done my homework too.”
Varun Chakravarthy did not reveal what new he had planned but said he had fresh weapons to unleash. He feels, though, that simply having variations can’t bring success, something he knows from his early days in the IPL with Kings XI Punjab; he said the “sequencing of his deliveries” was more important.
“Whenever I play some domestic, I try to work something new. Every year I try to bowl something new,” Varun said.
“Last year it worked out, in seasons before that it didn’t. Obviously, I have a few balls up my sleeve but it will depend on other factors also.
“Basically, the ball can deviate in three ways: left, right or straight. So how I choose those balls, the sequencing of it – that’s where the tactical side of the game comes and that’s what I’m working on.
“Whenever my captain wants me to bowl, I am ready for it. I have bowled in the powerplay, middle and death also. We have a new captain this time and he has spoken to me about where I can be most effective. I have also conveyed that to him.”
Varun Chakravarthy is excited to play with Sunil Narine in IPL 2025
Varun is also thrilled to restart his bowling partnership with Sunil Narine. Together, they took 38 wickets last season and were retained ahead of the auction.
“I don’t have to compliment him,” Varun said.
“He is a legend of the game. One of the greats of the game. He was the MVP last year also.
“We’ve had a little conversation this year and he looks very well prepared. He looks ready to take on the IPL just like how he did last year. I’m very excited to see him go this year also. Whatever he does, I just look at that and I try to imbibe whatever he does here.”
Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who has been a key player for the Indian team as well as the Kolkata Knight Riders side, believes that consistency is the key to success and he’s working on adding new variations to his craft and would be eager to unleash it in the upcoming season starting from the first match vs RCB on 22nd March 2025.