Kolkata Knight Riders mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy has said he is more focused on accuracy than trying variations in the ongoing season of IPL 2023. Chakravarthy returned with a match-winning of 3-27 against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru to help his team register a 21-run win on Wednesday.
Chakravarthy accounted for Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, and Dinesh Karthik in his fine spell. In fact, Chakravarthy had returned with impressive figures of 4-15 in the previous match of the season against RCB at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
The mystery spinner has been in red-hot form in the ongoing IPL 2023 as he has scalped 13 wickets in the eight matches he has played and he is currently the joint second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament.
Chakravarthy was awarded Player of the Match for his fine spell against RCB as he helped KKR restrict the home team to 179-8.
He said in the post-match presentation, “Last match I went for 49 and this match I did well. That’s how crazy life is. (This year) More focused on accuracy rather than more variations. I didn’t want to add more variations. I have been working a lot and I’d like to credit AC Pratheepan – he’s been working for me and even Abhishek Nayar. I’d like to thank them. I like that challenge (to bowl the difficult overs) and Nitish is giving the ball whenever he wants me to do the job, I am liking it. I’d like to credit this to my new born son, still not able to see him, I’d like to dedicate it to him and my wife.”
On the other hand, Andre Russell also played a key role with the ball. The all-rounder got the big wicket of Virat Kohli and also got rid of Wanindu Hasaranga. Russell returned with figures of 2-29 in his quota of four overs.
Russell said after the game, “We really needed that victory. Have been under the pump the last couple of games. Batting first tonight, we know once we get a good total on the board – runs on the board is pressure. Our goal was to keep their power play under 55. We were able to pull it back in the middle. Batting first or batting second comes down to the amount of runs you’re setting up, and the dew factor. Once I get the ball I try to do my best. Have been struggling in patches with the bat. Still confident, and still know what to do. Got a really good yorker, credit to Siraj. Recovery is important to me. The older I get, the more experienced, the more I look after my body.”
KKR will next face defending champions Gujarat Titans at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Saturday.
