Mumbai Indians began their IPL 2026 campaign with a commanding win over Kolkata Knight Riders at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, successfully chasing down a daunting 221-run target with surprising ease. What was expected to be a closely fought contest turned into a one-sided affair as MI’s batters dominated proceedings, handing KKR a tough start to their season.
The chase was headlined by a blistering opening stand led by Rohit Sharma, whose aggressive approach in the powerplay set the tone early. With contributions flowing from the top order, Mumbai Indians cruised to victory in just 19.1 overs, losing only four wickets in the process. However, amid KKR’s disappointing bowling display, one player who came under heavy scrutiny was their mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy.
Kris Srikkanth criticises Varun Chakaravarthy’s disappointing show against Mumbai Indians
Former India captain Kris Srikkanth did not hold back in his assessment of Chakaravarthy’s performance, openly criticising the spinner for his ineffective bowling and lack of variety. Speaking on his YouTube channel after the match, Srikkanth pointed out that Varun’s over-reliance on googlies has made him predictable in the eyes of modern batters. He stressed the need for the spinner to rediscover his leg-spin and bring more variation into his game.
According to Srikkanth, Varun’s “mystery” factor has faded significantly, making it easier for batters to read him. He added that unless the spinner evolves and develops a fuller range of deliveries, he could continue to struggle at the highest level. The criticism comes after a disappointing outing where Varun conceded 48 runs in his four overs without picking up a single wicket—figures that proved costly in a high-scoring encounter.
“Unless Varun Chakaravarthy learns to spin the ball and bowl leg-spin, he will struggle. Just bowling googlies all the time will not sustain. He has to get some variations and get the leg-spin going. There is no mystery with him anymore. Your mystery has become history,” said Srikkanth.
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Powerplay gamble backfires against Rohit Sharma
Srikkanth also questioned KKR’s tactical decision to introduce Chakaravarthy during the powerplay, particularly against a batter of Rohit’s calibre. The move backfired almost immediately, as Rohit took the spinner on, striking boundaries and a six to seize momentum. The former Indian captain believes that bowling Varun early in the innings dented his confidence. Once put under pressure, the spinner appeared to lose control, resorting to quicker deliveries that further played into the hands of Mumbai’s batters.Srikkanth emphasised that spinners like Varun are more effective when they operate outside the powerplay, where they can rely on deception rather than pace.
“Bowl leg-spin and take the ball away from the batters. That’s when batters will fear you. Firstly, he should not be given the ball in the powerplay. Rohit Sharma finished the match in his over itself in the powerplay. Varun Chakaravarthy’s confidence got dented there itself, and after that, he started bowling fast,” added Srikkanth.
Chakaravarthy’s struggles are not limited to this match alone. The spinner has endured a difficult run in recent months, including a challenging phase during the latter half of the T20 World Cup 2026, despite India eventually lifting the trophy.
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