Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)‘s ace spinner, Varun Chakravarthy, is gearing up for another exciting season of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. After a successful campaign in 2024, where KKR clinched the IPL title, Chakravarthy has set his sights on making a massive impact this season. In an exclusive interview on JioHotstar’s special show, Gen Bold, Varun shared insights into his journey in the IPL, the lessons learned from KKR’s title-winning season, and his goals for the upcoming year.
Learning from KKR’s TATA IPL 2024 Victory
Reflecting on KKR’s IPL 2024 triumph, Chakravarthy emphasized the importance of starting fresh every season. While the success of the previous year was significant, the bowler highlighted that cricket is all about resetting expectations and approaching each tournament with a clean slate.
Varun said, “The lesson is that you can have a great previous tournament, but again, you have to start from scratch. That’s what cricket teaches you. You can have fantastic two or three tournaments, but in the next one, you have to start from zero. So, that’s what I’m preparing for — starting from scratch.”
Staying Calm Under Pressure
Handling pressure has been one of Varun’s key strengths in T20 cricket, and his calmness under pressure is something that has shaped his career. Discussing his approach to managing high-pressure situations, Varun revealed his simple yet effective mindset.
“What I have learned till now is to just keep things very simple. Don’t try to do something very different, don’t try to bowl a magic ball or create a magic moment. The most impactful thing you can do is stick to your basics, do them well, and execute them properly,” Varun explained.
Managing Expectations
As one of the key bowlers for KKR, Varun is no stranger to the weight of expectations. However, he remains focused on what he can control and continues to follow his process.
“Expectations have always been there from the first game I played, and it’s not just for me — it’s for every cricketer in the TATA IPL. That’s how it is; it’s part and parcel of playing competitive cricket. So, you just need to focus on your process and not think too far ahead,” he said.
Partnership with Sunil Narine
Varun’s successful partnership with fellow spinner Sunil Narine has been one of the most reliable duos in IPL history. Chakravarthy praised Narine’s influence on his career and the seamless understanding they share on the field.
“Now that I’ve played five years alongside him — this is my sixth year with him — we don’t need to communicate as much anymore. He doesn’t have to spoon-feed me. Whatever I can learn, I can just observe what he is doing. Of course, if I have doubts, I always go up to him and talk to him. We have always bowled well in tandem, and he has been the most valuable player in T20 cricket from the very beginning. Even this year, he will be the MVP,” Varun said.
Dream Wickets for IPL 2025
As the new season unfolds, Chakravarthy is already eyeing some of the biggest names in world cricket. When asked about his most desired wickets for IPL 2025, the spinner named Heinrich Klaasen, Nicholas Pooran, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Suryakumar Yadav — some of the most destructive players in T20 cricket.
“Definitely any batsman who is in great form. Players like Heinrich Klaasen, Nicholas Pooran, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Suryakumar Yadav — these guys are all the star players. I would be very happy if I could pick their wickets,” Varun remarked.
With IPL 2025 just around the corner, Varun Chakravarthy’s focus remains sharp as he aims to lead KKR’s bowling attack and make a significant impact this season. Fans can expect the seasoned spinner to be at his best as KKR looks to defend their IPL title and continue their dominance in the tournament.
