Varun Chakravarthy’s dip in form has started to raise questions in Kolkata Knight Riders’ campaign, but head coach Abhishek Nayar has made it clear that the franchise continues to back their enigmatic mite. Despite a string of stunning performances, Nayar remains confident that Chakravarthy will find his rhythm again.
The struggles were visible across formats, with opposition teams increasingly taking him at crucial stages. However, Nayar insisted in the pre-match press conference ahead of KKR’s clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad that the spinner is in a strong space mentally and is well equipped to handle this phase.
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“He’s been through a lot of adversity over the years. As a franchise, as a support staff, we support him. I don’t think there’s any problem with that. But yes, teams play him well. It doesn’t mean he can’t come back. It just means it’s another challenge in his life, just like before,” Nayar said.
“We try and hope to support him in every way possible. I hope the fans around the world do as well. Whether it’s this game or in the future, it’s inevitable that he’ll bounce back like he has in the past. I honestly believe he’s in a very good place mentally – in fact, a better place than he’s been in previous years,” he added.
However, Chakravarthy’s recent outings reflect the challenges he currently faces. After a difficult start to the IPL against Mumbai Indians, where Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton dismantled him for 0 for 48, the pressure around his role only increased. Even in the subsequent match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, he was tested in the middle overs as the batsmen looked set to break his control soon.
WHAT HAPPENED TO VARUN CHAKRAVARTHY?
A closer look at Chakravarthy’s recent numbers show this slump. During the T20 World Cup, he went at an economy rate of 9.24, although he finished with 14 wickets, joint-highest alongside Jasprit Bumrah. His struggles were particularly noticeable against South Africa where he conceded 47 runs in a heavy defeat.
A key factor in this phase has been how opposition teams approach it. Once considered difficult to decode, Chakravarthy is now being targeted more actively, especially in the middle games where teams look to break momentum.
The weight of expectations also increased after his performances in India. With batsmen now more prepared for their variations, the margin for error has reduced significantly, leaving him exposed to high-pressure situations where even minor inaccuracies are punished.
“Yes, he has done a lot in the last year which has raised the expectations. Everyone always knew that Varun Chakravarthy is a great bowler, but the expectations have increased because of what he has done for India. Varun is mixing in phases where he will always be challenged. As an opposition, if you are planning against KKR, you will try to remove him,” said Nayar.
“There will be times when teams succeed and times when they don’t. As a player, he understands that. If he gets wickets in those phases, he becomes a completely different bowler,” he added.
Despite the slump, KKR’s approach remained consistent. The team continues to use Chakravarthy in the tight stages, trusting his ability to deliver breakthroughs under pressure rather than guarding him.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
02 Apr 2026 10:50 IST
