Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Kolkata Knight Riders head coach Abhishek Nayar has confirmed that spinner Varun Chakravarthy has been ruled out of their clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Raipur on Wednesday night, May 13, due to a hairline toe fracture.
Nayar did not provide a timeline for Chakravarthy’s recovery but expressed hope that the bowler could return in the next match if his condition improves.
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“It’s not been easy for him,” Nayar said during the innings against RCB. “He’s been trying in the last couple of days to come out for the team, but maybe in the next game if his toe gets better, he’ll come in. But there’s a small hairline on his toe, and it’s on the foot that he lands on, so it’s quite uncomfortable for him right now. We’re very hopeful that he comes back in the next game.”
The mystery spinner, who was seen wearing knee braces and using crutches after KKR’s previous match against Delhi Capitals, raised serious concerns over his availability for the final leg of the Indian Premier League for KKR.
Varun has been one of the key figures in KKR’s late-season resurgence after a disastrous start where they lost their first six matches. Following a wicketless run in the opening three games, Chakravarthy bounced back strongly, picking up 10 wickets in the next four matches, including a match-winning three-wicket spell against Sunrisers Hyderabad. His turnaround has been central to KKR’s revival, with the team then going on to win four consecutive games and stay alive in the playoff race.
Kolkata are currently placed eighth on the points table with nine points from 10 matches. With four games still remaining, including the high-stakes clash against RCB, KKR remain mathematically in contention for a playoff spot. However, they now face a must-win scenario, needing to win all their remaining matches to stay in the hunt.
Their situation draws parallels to Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s remarkable turnaround last season, when they won seven games on the bounce to seal a playoff berth and eventually went on to lift their maiden Indian Premier League title, completing a dramatic redemption arc.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
