RCB vs KKR: Varun Chakravarthy's Absence Could Benefit RCB, Says Mohammed Kaif

As RCB prepares to face KKR, former cricketer Mohammed Kaif highlights the potential advantage for RCB if spinner Varun Chakravarthy is unable to play. KKR has recently regained form, winning four matches after a rough patch, but Varun's fitness remains uncertain. This article delves into the implications of his possible absence and the strategies both teams might employ in this crucial IPL clash.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 13, 2026, 17:04 IST

RCB Prepares for KKR Showdown

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 13: As the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) gear up to face the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), former Indian cricketer Mohammed Kaif has pointed out that the potential absence of spinner Varun Chakravarthy might be advantageous for the defending champions.

RCB aims to build on their recent success following a nail-biting two-wicket victory over the Mumbai Indians (MI). They will be up against KKR, who have recently turned their fortunes around after a challenging stretch of six matches without a win, which included five losses and one no result.

KKR has since bounced back, winning four consecutive matches and re-establishing themselves in the playoff race.

A positive note for KKR is the resurgence of Varun Chakravarthy, who has claimed 10 wickets in his last five outings after a slow start where he went wicketless in his first three matches. He entered the tournament following a mixed performance in the T20 World Cup, where he topped the wicket charts with 14 wickets but struggled during the Super Eight stage.

However, Varun's fitness is now in question after he appeared to sustain an injury while fielding against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and showed signs of discomfort in the match against Delhi Capitals (DC). According to reports, assistant coach Shane Watson mentioned that Varun is currently 'sore and being monitored.'

Kaif, speaking on 'Match Centre Live', remarked, 'If Varun Chakravarthy is unavailable, it would be a significant advantage for RCB. He has recently regained his form and has been effective in his bowling. Virat Kohli tends to perform well against quicker spin bowlers.'

He also noted that KKR would prefer to have Varun in the lineup to maintain their strategy of utilizing 'two pacers, one all-rounder, and three spinners.'

'Anukul Roy has been performing exceptionally well during the Powerplay, allowing Sunil Narine to be used later in the innings to manage the middle overs effectively,' he added.

Kolkata Knight Riders Squad: Ajinkya Rahane(c), Finn Allen, Angkrish Raghuvanshi(w), Cameron Green, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Anukul Roy, Kartik Tyagi, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy, Ramandeep Singh, Tejasvi Dahiya, Navdeep Saini, Tim Seifert, Rachin Ravindra, Blessing Muzarabani, Matheesha Pathirana, Rahul Tripathi, Sarthak Ranjan, Prashant Solanki, Saurabh Dubey, Umran Malik, Daksh Kamra

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Squad: Jacob Bethell, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(c), Krunal Pandya, Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Rasikh Salam Dar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Jordan Cox, Mangesh Yadav, Venkatesh Iyer, Jacob Duffy, Philip Salt, Nuwan Thushara, Vihaan Malhotra, Abhinandan Singh, Kanishk Chouhan, Satvik Deswal, Vicky Ostwal, Swapnil Singh.