A timely unbeaten 53 from vice-captain Rinku Singh and a fine spell from Varun Chakravarthy powered former champions Kolkata Knight Riders to their first win of IPL 2026.
'Apart from Bumrah, nothing much stood out in the bowling, except for the new spell bowled by Arshdeep.'
Skipper Suryakumar Yadav says India will consider playing two spinners in the T20 World Cup if the situation demands, highlighting the team's strong spin bowling options and flexible batting lineup.
The spotlight is on mystery spinners like Varun Chakravarthy and Usman Tariq, who could exploit the Premadasa Stadium's testing pitch during the India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup on Sunday.
Faf du Plessis called upon KKR to prepare spin-friendly pitches for their home games at Eden Gardens, which will bring their spin duo Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy into contention.
Quinton de Kock advises his South African teammates to rely on their strengths and instincts when facing Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy in their upcoming T20 match, acknowledging Chakravarthy's skill and the pressure of the game.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) are reportedly dissatisfied with the arrangements and facilities for the upcoming Asian Games cricket tournament in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Concerns include inadequate dressing rooms, distant washrooms, and small hotel rooms. As a result, India might send a 'B' team instead of the previously announced full-strength squad, pending a report from a BCCI observer.
Team India opener Abhishek Sharma continued to stay at the top of the ICC Men's T20I batting charts despite a horrendous run in the ongoing T20 World Cup.
Spinner Varun Chakravarthy has taken a veiled dig at Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi for refusing to hand over the Asia Cup trophy to Team India in Dubai, saying that while the trophy can be withheld, nobody can take away the title of "champions" from India.
Just hours after being named to India's Champions Trophy squad, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy has been sidelined with a calf injury.
Virat Kohli was on Sunday named in India's squad for the three-match ODI series against England next month, subject to fitness clearance.
India spinner Varun Chakravarthy says his T20 World Cup preparation is centred around backing his lengths, maintaining confidence and constantly challenging himself mentally even in matches that appear straightforward.
The mystery spinner has not bowled to his strength, says former India spinner Piyush Chawla.
Former India captain Anil Kumble praised Rohit Sharma's impressive start to IPL 2026, noting his improved fitness and dominant batting performance.
Indian mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy has extended his lead at the top of the ICC Men's T20I Bowler Rankings, climbing to a new career-high rating.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia is set to meet Head Of Cricket VVS Laxman to review the rehabilitation management programme at the Centre of Excellence (COE) following a spate of injuries to key Indian players. The meeting aims to address concerns regarding player fitness and the effectiveness of the COE's injury management protocols.
Rajasthan Royals head coach Vikram Rathour has expressed his support for Riyan Parag, who has been struggling with his form in the current season. Rathour believes it is only a matter of time before Parag starts performing well and contributing to the team's success.
A struggling Indian team, yet to secure a win on their UK tour, is set to make a crucial change for the third T20 International against England, likely replacing out-of-form leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi with an additional pace bowler to strengthen their attack.
Varun Chakravarthy credited the intense domestic grind and the role clarity provided by new head coach Gautam Gambhir as vital in helping regain his lost form.
Ahead of the match against LSG he was sat down by the KKR social media team who got him to answer some rapid fire questions.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the T20 World Cup final against New Zealand on Sunday?
Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad in their recent IPL match, with their bowling unit receiving high praise for restricting the opposition to a manageable total. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane credited the bowlers, particularly the spinners, for their consistent performance and ability to take crucial wickets.
Ashwin wants Bhuvneshwar Kumar in India's 2027 World Cup squad, saying the veteran seamer's swing bowling could be crucial in South African conditions.
He's a tough one, the one we'll have to look out for: Short on mystery tweaker Varun
Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya trained at full intensity, indicating his return for their IPL match against Kolkata Knight Riders. Pandya had missed MI's last three matches due to a back spasm.
Varun Chakravarthy, who has quickly become one of India's most consistent bowlers in T20Is, further cemented his reputation with a brilliant 3-23 in the first T20I in Kolkata.
Ishan Kishan's impressive performance in the T20 World Cup has propelled him to a career-high second position in the ICC T20I batting rankings, while Rashid Khan overtakes Varun Chakravarthy to become the top-ranked bowler.
Kolkata Knight Riders opener Finn Allen has urged his teammates to remain patient and give themselves time to settle, following a disappointing start to the IPL season. He also provided an update on Varun Chakravarthy's fitness.
Varun Chakravarthy expresses confidence in India's spin attack ahead of Sunday's T20 World Cup game against Pakistan.
Ravichandran Ashwin's tactical foresight proved spot on as mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy dismissed the dangerous Travis Head early in India's Champions Trophy semifinal against Australia.
Ahead of T20 game with NZ, skipper Yadav, others go on jungle safari in Chhattisgarh
Except in the IPL, the Australians have not had a good look at Varun Chakravarthy's bowling and that could spell trouble for Steve Smith and Co.
Varun Chakravarthy is the second oldest debutant for India in One-Day Internationals after Farokh Engineer.
'...if you are bowling in the powerplay or right after the powerplay, there's not much help from the wicket.'
New Zealander Glenn Phillips is fast emerging as one of the few batters who appear to have cracked the Varun Chakravarthy puzzle in the first T20I in Nagpur.
In a surprising take, former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has overlooked Jasprit Bumrah while identifying the two biggest threats for opposition teams in T20 cricket.
Kolkata Knight Riders ended Sunrisers Hyderabad's five-match winning streak with a dominant seven-wicket win in Hyderabad, powered by a clinical bowling display and a composed chase led by Angkrish Raghuvanshi.
Delhi Capitals face Kolkata Knight Riders in a crucial IPL match, needing a win to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The 34-year-old mystery spinner rewrote the record books during the fifth and final T20I against South Africa at Ahmedabad on Friday, casting a spell of his bamboozling spin magic on the Proteas batters, four of them surrendering to his bowling.
Rajasthan Royals, after a setback against Sunrisers Hyderabad, aim to exploit the Kolkata Knight Riders' ongoing struggles in their upcoming IPL match. KKR, plagued by consecutive defeats and questionable decisions, are desperate for a win in front of their home crowd before a month-long break.
