Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are seemingly in a never-ending series of troubles. Ahead of the clash against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Chepauk on April 14, the Kolkata team has multiple issues within its squad, including Varun Chakravarthy’s injury.
Former India team and former KKR opener Aakash Chopra, in this YouTube video, shared that Varun Chakravarthy may have a small fracture, so he is still not sure to play against CSK as well.
Varun Chakravarthy’s out of shape fitness under the scanner
Since the Super 8 stage of the 2026 T20 World Cup, the Indian spinner has been struggling with his form. In the two matches he has played so far for KKR in the IPL 2026 season, the spinner has gone wicketless, conceding 79 runs in six overs. Due to injury, he missed the previous two games.
Varun Chakravarthy led bowling sessions in the nets before the CSK vs KKR match. But Aakash Chopra noticed that the player still has his left hand bandaged. Chopra reported that the 34-year-old man may have a small fracture in his left hand.
Matheesha Pathirana not available to play for Kolkata Knight Riders
Along with Varun Chakravarthy, KKR is also worried about their foreign pacer Matheesha Pathirana. The Sri Lankan pacer received his fitness certificate from the board after following fitness protocols but remains unavailable to play for the Knight Riders against the Chennai Super Kings.
“Pathirana is fit but not available. He has the fitness certificate but is not available for this match. It would have been great if Pathirana had come as he had played only for Chennai and could have played against them now but KKR’s problems are not over,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
Chopra felt that despite having a poor record of late, Varun could achieve results against CSK as he knows the terrain and conditions very well.
“They are a team that is still looking for a win. Varun Chakaravarthy has started bowling; that is good news, but his hand is still bandaged. What I have heard is a small fracture. He is only from Chennai. Although his current form is not very good, you feel that he would do better if he plays. If he is available, you might see him playing in place of Anukul Roy,” he added.
Will Varun Chakravarthy play against CSK?
Before the match, a KKR spokesperson told media that the player had a bandaged hand but was practicing well in the nets.
“Varun has been training. His hand is bandaged, but he is still training. He has been training every day leading up to this match, so he is fine,” a KKR spokesperson told the media at the pre-match press conference.
The former cricketer suggests that KKR maintain faith in Caribbean batsman Rovman Powell and ask the team to promote Cameron Green in the batting order.
“The rest of the team is the same that played the last match, which I feel Rovman Powell needs to play in. I just have one suggestion. You are giving Cameron Green almost INR 2 crore, INR 1.8 crore to be precise, per match. So move the order up slightly,” opined Aakash Chopra.
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