During the T20 series opener between India and Bangladesh, coach Gautam Gambhir was seen engaging in a serious conversation with spinner Varun Chakravarthy after the match had ended. This brought back memories of renowned football coach Pep Guardiola's on-field chat with player Joshua Kimmich, even though his team had won. While Gambhir's motive behind the chat remains a mystery, former head coach Ravi Shastri speculated that it could be related to either the bowler's speed or field placement. With his impressive three-wicket haul, Chakravarthy is determined to secure his spot in the Indian T20I team.
As the Indian Premier League (IPL) season progresses, the race for the coveted Purple Cap heats up. With Rajasthan Royals' Avesh Khan and Kolkata Knight Riders' Varun Chakravarthy making significant strides in the most wickets tally, the top spot is still held by Punjab Kings' Harshal Patel. However, challengers like Chennai Super Kings' Tushar Deshpande are not too far behind. The competition for the Purple Cap continues to intensify in the 2024 season, with all eyes on the top 5 contenders and their impressive performances.
Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has warned Sunrisers Hyderabad's young opener Abhishek Sharma to be ready for the challenge presented by Kolkata Knight Riders' formidable spinners in the IPL Qualifier 1. With 41 maximums and 467 runs in this season, the 23-year-old is the leading six-hitter of the season. Chopra believes that Sharma will need to bring his best against Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, who have a combined 33 wickets, particularly since spin might be introduced early due to Travis Head's presence. Chopra also praised Sharma's opening partner Travis Head and highlighted his success at the same venue in the ODI World Cup 2023 final.
In the first qualifier match of IPL 2024, Kolkata Knight Riders showcased a promising performance, with contributions from Venkatesh Iyer, Sunil Narine, and Mitchell Starc, to defeat Sunrisers Hyderabad by bundling them out for 159 runs. KKR's impressive bowling lineup, including Andre Russell and Varun Chakravarthy, played a major role in restricting SRH's formidable batting lineup. The top-scorer for SRH was Rahul Tripathi with 55 runs.
Venkatesh Iyer and Varun Chakravarthy shine as Kolkata Knight Riders outplay Mumbai Indians in a rain-hit match at Eden Gardens. Despite early struggles, Kolkata was able to post a competitive total and then restrict Mumbai to a below-par score, thanks to impressive performances from their players. With this win, Kolkata becomes the first team to qualify for the playoffs this season.
In a thrilling low-scoring match of the IPL 2024, Kolkata Knight Riders emerged victorious against Mumbai Indians at the iconic Wankhede stadium. Venkatesh Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav were the stars of the match, with Iyer's brilliant 70 runs and Starc's four wickets proving to be the deciding factor. KKR's spin twins, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, also played a crucial role in their team's victory. This victory marks KKR's first win at Wankhede since 2012 and their second win at the venue.
In a nail-biting encounter, Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Mumbai Indians by 24 runs thanks to a heroic half-century from Venkatesh Iyer and exceptional bowling performances by Mitchell Starc and KKR's spin twins, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy. Iyer's fighting knock of 70, along with Starc's four-wicket haul, proved to be the game-changers as KKR secured their first victory at Wankhede Stadium since 2012. Despite a strong fightback from Suryakumar Yadav, MI were ultimately bowled out for 145, sealing a morale-boosting win for KKR against a dominant team on their home turf.
British batter Phil Salt proved his value in KKR as he propelled the team to a seven-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals with a knock of 68 runs in just 33 balls. Riding on the opening partnership of 79 runs between Salt and Sunil Narine, KKR easily chased down the target of 154 with Shreyas Iyer and Venkatesh Iyer contributing to the total. Earlier, Varun Chakravarthy's impressive spell of 3-16 restricted DC to 153/9, with Kuldeep Yadav contributing with both bat and ball.
Led by spinner Varun Chakravarthy, the disciplined bowling of Kolkata Knight Riders proved to be too much for a struggling Delhi Capitals line-up, as the hosts secured a convincing victory. Despite a strong start from DC, KKR's bowlers took control early on and never looked back. This win helps Kolkata cement their position in the points table as they continue to impress in the ongoing tournament.
In a high-scoring game, Rishabh Pant's explosive fifty and Tristan Stubbs' maiden IPL fifty kept Delhi Capitals in the hunt against Kolkata Knight Riders. Despite a record-breaking score of 272 by Kolkata, Pant's sensational hitting kept Delhi alive throughout the chase. However, Varun Chakravarthy's crucial wickets of Pant and Axar Patel ensured Delhi's downfall and a victory for Kolkata.