KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane said the team is confident of Varun Chakravarthy’s return to form during the upcoming IPL 2026 season. Varun endured a torrid time during the second half of the T20 World Cup 2026 despite ending the tournament as the highest wicket-taker alongside Jasprit Bumrah.
From the beginning of the Super 8 stage, he started a merry-go-round and completed 64 runs in the semi-final against England. He finished with 14 wickets but his economy rate of 9.25 was worrying. He continued his loss spot at the top of the ICC T20I bowlers’ rankings. However, Rahane said Varun did nothing wrong and said he tried to pick wickets at crucial points in the game.
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The KKR skipper also feels that the break after the T20 World Cup has come at the right time for Varun, allowing him to recalibrate ahead of the new season.
“When you have a long career in T20 cricket, first of all, you tend to have things like that. It’s almost like the batter doesn’t run sometimes. And that’s cricket.”
“I think that’s one of the things with Varun, he’s played so much T20 cricket in the last year… So obviously a lot of teams will try (against him). Sometimes the conditions are not conducive to their bowling style. You also have to understand that he always plays tough overs for the team. This conference season, he’s playing the first news in the Powerplay team during the Garden Rahane.”
“He bowls in phases of the game where two batsmen are set up. He comes in and tries to pick wickets. So I wouldn’t say there is necessarily anything wrong with him. He had a good 10-day break after the World Cup. I think a break is sometimes what a cricketer requires. And the beauty of a team sport is that sometimes when someone else doesn’t turn up, Varun.”
‘DO NOT WORRY ABOUT VARUN’
With 99 scalps to his name, Varun is the third highest wicket taker for KKR in IPL history. He formed a strong partnership with Sunil Narine which was one of the main reasons why they won the IPL title in 2024.
Rahane said the team would not put any pressure on the spinner and saw no problem with him being given time off once in a while.
“And we don’t want to put that much pressure on Varun. He’s been someone who has delivered year after year. So there’s nothing wrong…
“Conditions and sometimes just timing… He’s always expected to pick up wickets… As players, everyone goes through a phase where they try really hard, prepare really well, but they’re not able to perform on the pitch.
“I thought the opposition batsmen played really well in the World Cup. Let’s give them credit instead of talking about Varun. As a group we are really confident about Varun… So as a captain and also as a group as a team we are not really worried,” Rahane said.
KKR will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Mumbai Indians on March 29.
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Published on:
21 March 2026 11:18 IST
