Playing through pain: Varun refuses to take the easy option, says Shane Watson

Kolkata Knight Riders spinner Varun Chakravarthy is refusing to let his leg injury go, the team’s assistant coach Shane Watson revealed on Wednesday (May 20). After KKR’s crucial win over Mumbai Indians that kept their Indian Premier League playoff hopes alive, Watson said Varun was willing to push through the pain to contribute to the side.

Varun played his full quota of four overs against Mumbai Indians at the Eden Gardens, despite a suspected leg fracture. His economical spell helped KKR keep the pressure on the MI batting line-up, which collapsed in the powerplay after losing four wickets for just 41 runs.

The mystery spinner has been dealing with pain from an impact injury sustained during KKR’s match against Delhi Capitals earlier in the season, which was later diagnosed as a hairline fracture.

“All I know is that he’s obviously playing through a bit of pain at the moment, which just shows how brave he is and how much he wants to be here to contribute for KKR,” Watson said in the post-match press conference.

“He’s still bowling beautifully. It’s been great to see the turnaround from the first few games of the season to the impact he’s been able to have consistently in every single game,” he added.

VARUN CHAKRAVARTHY: PLAYING WITH PAIN

Despite the injury, Varun continued to make himself available as KKR attempted one of the most dramatic turnarounds of IPL 2026. Ajinkya Rahane’s side have now won six of their last seven matches after suffering a disastrous start to the campaign.

Varun, who struggled for rhythm at the start of the season, rediscovered his touch in the middle of the tournament and played a huge role in transforming KKR’s bowling attack.

Crediting his hunger and drive, Watson said the franchise was lucky to have someone willing to put the team ahead of personal comfort.

“We’re so lucky to have someone with Varun’s skills and also his desperation to be here and want to play for KKR because with the pain he’s dealing with, he could have easily said, ‘I don’t want to be a part of it, I’m just going to rest,'” Watson said.

“So we are very happy that everything is fine and he did a great job again tonight. We are very grateful for everything he continues to do for KKR,” he added.

KKR stay alive in the playoffs after their win over Mumbai Indians. If they manage to beat Delhi Capitals in their last league game, they could still finish in the top four if results elsewhere go in their favour.

Regardless of where they finish, KKR’s late-season resurgence has been one of the stories of IPL 2026. Failing to win any of their first six matches, the side has shown remarkable resilience to claw their way back into playoff contention.

– The end

Issued by:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published on:

May 21, 2026 1:14 PM IST