Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has talked about the role of Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane in maintaining the mystery-spinner's form. Varun ChakrabortyHe claimed that they need to manage their star bowler better.
Varun comes into IPL 2026 after a poor performance in the T20 World Cup, where despite being the joint-highest wicket-taker, he was showered with runs, making it very easy for the batsmen to play him. He has continued that form in the IPL as well, conceding 79 runs in eight overs bowled against Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad, without taking any wickets, as KKR lost both games.
Varun was brought in to bowl in the powerplay against Travis Head Abhishek SharmaWho were driving the motor together. Pathan explained how captain Rahane should support the bowler in difficult moments, understanding when he should be brought in.
During a discussion on ESPN Cricinfo, Pathan said, “A captain plays an important role in boosting the confidence of a bowler. If he does not support you at the time when you think you can perform better or when you have the pace, then that is where the leadership gets tested. That is why Varun Chakravarthy should not have bowled in the powerplay.”
He further said that it would end up with him losing a key bowler as he would not get enough space to recover from a poor spell. Pathan believes that it was costly for Rahane to mismanage Varun, which ruined his form.
“You are potentially losing a bowler who should be your trump card and match-winner. By putting him in such a high-pressure situation, you make his recovery even more difficult. Whereas Ajinkya Rahane “After adjusting well in the second half, he compromised Varun's rhythm by mismanaging him during the early overs,” he concluded.
Kolkata Knight Riders have lost both their opening games of the 2026 IPL season; Tamil Nadu's spinner getting himself back into form will be crucial in their efforts to revive their season. They will look to turn their fortunes when they host Punjab Kings at the Eden Gardens on April 06.
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