KKR head coach Abhishek Nayar continues to back their premier spinner Varun Chakaravarthy despite his recent rough patch, which has faded his mystery in the shortest format. Chakaravarthy’s stocks have dropped in recent times, following a below-par T20 World Cup in which, from the Super 8 stage, teams started reading his mystery and counter-attacking him; the trend was followed in KKR’s opening match of IPL 2026 against the Mumbai Indians.
Chakravarthy had a rough time at the T20 World Cup, going at over nine an over even though he ended up with 14 wickets, level with Jasprit Bumrah. His struggles were evident from the game against South Africa, where he was taken apart for 47 runs in a heavy loss.
He faced a similar fate against Mumbai Indians, where Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton took him apart, and he failed to get any wickets there. The spinner returned wicketless figures of 0/48 as KKR failed to defend 210, slumping to a six-wicket defeat at the Wankhede.
Nayar threw his weight behind struggling Chakaravarthy, stressing that the team continues to stand by him despite recent challenges and remains confident of a turnaround.
“Over the years, he’s gone through a lot of adversity. As a franchise, as a support staff, we back him. I don’t think there’s any issue,” Nayar said on the eve of KKR’s first home game against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
“But yes, teams are playing him well. It doesn’t mean he can’t come back. It just means it’s another challenge in his life, like he’s had before.
“And we are trying and we are hoping, and in every way backing him. I hope the fans of the world do too. Whether it’s this game or in the future, it’s inevitable that he will bounce back like he has in the past.”
The KKR head coach also spoke about the bowler’s mindset, pointing out that rising expectations have come with recent success but insisting his mental state remains strong.
“I honestly believe mentally he’s in a very good space — actually in a better space than he’s been in previous years.
“Yes, he’s accomplished a lot over the past year, which has increased expectations. Everyone always knew Varun Chakravarthy is a terrific bowler, but the expectation has grown because of what he’s done for India.”
Nayar also cited data to suggest that there has been no drastic change in Chakaravarthy’s bowling, despite talk of his struggling lengths.
“Statistically, he’s pretty much bowled the same speeds that he always has. HawkEye suggests he’s bowled the same lengths. But sometimes players just play you better than what you’re doing,” he added.
“You’re going to try and take him down”
He also pointed out conditions at the Wankhede Stadium where even spinners found little assistance.
“It was a very good pitch — one that challenged all spinners. Ironically, only one wicket was taken by a spinner.
“Varun bowls in phases where he’s always going to be challenged. As an opposition, if you’re planning against KKR, you’re going to try and take him down.
“There will be times when teams succeed and times when they don’t. As a player, he understands that,” he said.
