IPL 2023: Stephen Fleming regrets not having Varun Chakravarthy in CSK squad

Varun Chakravarthy picked up 2 early wickets against Chennai Super Kings at Chapauk on Sunday.

Not many of the fans are aware that Varun Chakravarthy once served as a net bowler in the Chennai Super Kings camp. Now, Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming regrets not having Varun in CSK’s setup. Varun Chakravarthy played an important role in Kolkata Knight Riders' win over CSK on Sunday night's IPL 2023 game. He bowled a magnificent 2/36 in his 4 overs, that put CSK under pressure. He had a great partnership with Sunil Narine in the middle overs and controlled Chennai’s batting line-up from scoring. He was playing his first-ever IPL game at Chepauk Stadium. Varun sent back Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ajinkya Rahane inside the first 10 overs. 

CSK head coach Stephen Fleming talking about Varun Chakravarthy, He said, “It still hurts us, missing out on Varun in auction. He tortured us in the nets for a number of years. Just with the auctions, the way it is, we could not retain him”. Varun Chakravarthy was picked up by Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in the IPL Auction 2019 for 8.4 crores. In the next season he was released by Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders picked him in the auction. Varun has been part of KKR since 2020 and he has become an integral member of the team. 

Talking about Varun’s performance against CSK on Sunday, Fleming said, “We were very excited by him as a talent when he bowled against us in the nets. And we would have loved him for a big price this year. He bowled very well today. He is a weapon". Varun has picked up 19 wickets in the IPL 2023 so far. He has played 55 IPL games so far and picked up 61 wickets.