Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane lauded spinner Varun Chakravarthy for his impressive comeback after a slow start to the IPL 2026 season. Following KKR's seven-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rahane expressed hope that the bowler would maintain his outstanding form.
Varun Chakravarthy's Resurgence
Varun Chakravarthy, who had gone wicketless in his first three matches of IPL 2026 and struggled during the T20 World Cup, has taken 10 wickets in his last four outings. In the match against SRH, he claimed three wickets for 36 runs, playing a pivotal role in restricting the opposition to 165 runs.
Rahane highlighted Varun's hard work and positive attitude. "Really happy for Varun. The way he came back was amazing. He works really hard and has a great attitude. He has been bowling in tough situations. I am sure he will continue his performance," the captain said.
Match Summary
SRH won the toss and elected to bat first. Travis Head smashed 61 off 27 balls, including nine fours and three sixes, while Ishan Kishan contributed 42 off 29 balls. However, after reaching 105 for 1, SRH lost regular wickets, thanks to Varun Chakravarthy (3/36) and Sunil Narine (2/31), and were bowled out for 165.
Chasing 166, KKR got off to a flying start with Finn Allen scoring 29 off 13 balls. He added 84 runs with Rahane, who made 43 off 35 balls, and Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who remained unbeaten on 59 off 47 balls. KKR reached the target with seven wickets in hand and 10 balls to spare.
Rahane's Post-Match Comments
Rahane credited the bowlers for their disciplined performance. "Credit to our bowlers. They kept taking wickets. The bowling unit has been doing really well. It is all about planning and executing. As long as you are clear in your head, that is important. This victory was very important," he said.
Despite losing five matches earlier in the season, Rahane noted that the team remained calm. "We lost those five matches, but the atmosphere was calm. We kept it really cool," he added.
Points Table Impact
With this win, KKR moved to eighth place in the IPL 2026 points table, now with seven points from five losses and one no result. SRH, on the other hand, are fourth with 12 points from six wins and four losses.
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