Spinner Varun Chakravarthy revealed just how much the win meant to the team.
“I saw more tears in the dressing room today than after we had won the tournament in 2024,” he said. “This win has a huge significance for us.”
The victory has kept KKR’s playoff hopes alive, though their path forward remains challenging and uncertain.
Varun Chakravarthy’s Return to Form
It was also a personal milestone for Chakravarthy, who delivered an impressive spell of 3 for 14, signaling a return to form. Despite the standout performance, the mystery spinner remained grounded.
“The wicket was helping us a little, and when that happens, the bowler will tend to attack,” he explained.
Chakravarthy dismissed concerns about his recent struggles, attributing them largely to pitch conditions rather than a dip in skill.
“I’m very tough on myself. If I don’t do well, I go and pinpoint what is not there. But the pitches were such that there was nothing for the spinners. If you see other spinners also, it was the same condition for everyone.”
He added that the surface at Eden Gardens finally offered some assistance to spinners, making a noticeable difference.
Batting Shortfall and Missed Opportunities
Despite the favorable pitch conditions, Chakravarthy acknowledged that a total of 190 was just about par. KKR’s batting coach Vikram Rathour echoed the sentiment.
“We were at least 20 runs short,” Rathore admitted, highlighting that the team could have put up a more competitive score.
A crucial turning point in the match came when Nandre Burger dropped a catch off Rinku Singh when the batter was on just eight runs— a moment that proved costly for the opposition, Rajasthan Royals.
“Yes, it made the difference, but these things do happen,” Rathore added, accepting the unpredictability of the game.
What This Means for KKR
This hard-fought victory may not solve all of KKR’s problems, but it has reignited belief within the squad. With momentum finally on their side and key players rediscovering form, the team now faces a crucial stretch where every match could define their season.
