Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are preparing for the crucial IPL 2026 match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday, April 9. The three-time IPL champions have not won a single game yet this season, and the pressure is already visible inside the camp.
Ahead of the crucial KKR vs LSG clash in Kolkata, former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has sent a strong message to the franchise. Cricket pundits believe that it is time for KKR to fully support their struggling mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy.
Irfan Pathan urges KKR to support Varun Chakravarthy despite poor form and injury
Varun Chakravarthy missed Kolkata Knight Riders’ last IPL 2028 match against Punjab Kings due to a finger injury, but the entire match was abandoned due to rain and both the teams had to share points. The injury is on his non-bowling hand and Pathan feels he can still take the field if KKR shows confidence in him.
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He wants the spinner to play against LSG as Varun has an excellent record against LSG captain Rishabh Pant. The off-spinner has dismissed Pant thrice in just 30 balls and given away only 31 runs. Even though Pant is playing match-winning innings and is brimming with confidence, Varun’s previous dominance makes him a major weapon for KKR in this high-pressure home match.
‘This is an opportunity for Kolkata to support Varun’
“Varun Chakravarthy got injured. Even though he has an injured little finger on his left hand, he bowls with his right hand. So, you should support him and give him that confidence,” Irfan Pathan said in a video posted on his YouTube channel.
He further added, “Rishabh Pant’s strike rate against Varun Chakravarthy is around 100. But that is an old story, and Rishabh Pant recently played an unbeaten innings in the last match for his team. His confidence will be very high, but he has dismissed Varun Chakravarthy three times in six innings and has scored 31 runs off 30 balls. This is a chance for Kolkata to back Varun.”
Notably, Varun has been struggling badly with the ball since the T20 World Cup 2026. He finished the global tournament as the joint-highest wicket-taker with 14 wickets in nine innings, but most of his wickets came during the early stages of the event.
However, the Indian spinners have been struggling badly in the ongoing IPL 2026 so far. He has not taken a single wicket for KKR so far and his economy rate is an expensive 13.16.
Irfan Pathan wants Angkrish Raghuvanshi to replace Cameron Green at number 3.
Meanwhile, Irrfan suggested that Angkrish Raghuvanshi should be promoted to number 3. Angkrish has been one of the standout performers for KKR in the ongoing IPL 2026. He has already scored two half-centuries, so Pathan feels that the struggling Cameron Green should be pushed to No. 4.
He said, “Angkrish Raghuvanshi should bat at No. 3 and Cameron Green should come in at No. 4. Angkrish has scored runs in both the innings. So, you should support the current form. It is understandable that you want to play Cameron Green, but you should back Angkrish Raghuvanshi.”
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