IPL 2020: Chakravarthy the ‘architect’ in KKR’s big win

It helped that Varun Chakravarthy pursued a degree in architecture before the love for cricket rekindled in his heart. He had come to be known as the mystery spinner from Tamil Nadu and the Delhi Capitals were to find that out in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

The 29-year-old brought the line, the length, the trajectory and the hunger to the fore which left him almost unplayable. Chakravarthy scythed through the batting line-up as the Delhi Capitals capitulated to hand the Kolkata Knight Riders a 59-run win at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.

Chakravarthy’s five for 20, his best bowling figures and the best this season so far, as well as three wickets from Pat Cummins and half-centuries from Nitish Rana and Sunil Narine helped the Kolkata Knight Riders stay in contention for the IPL playoffs.

"This is surreal,” Man of the Match Chakravarthy said at the post-match presentation.

“The last few games I didn't get wickets. I wanted to get one or two today (Saturday), but thank God, I got five,” he added.

Chakravarthy revealed that opposition captain Iyer was the prized wicket.

“I enjoyed Shreyas Iyer's wicket the most. I was bowling to the shorter boundary so I had to attack the stumps,” he said.

Chakravathy, while thanking his family, who stuck by him, also recalled the tough times from the past.

“I want to thank my mother Hema Malini, father Vinoth Chakravarathy and fiancée Neha. And all my physios. Around 2015 when I was not making much money as an architect, I thought I would try something else when I wasn't able to meet my needs,” said Chakravarthy.

Chakravarthy also had words of praise from Morgan.

“Varun is such a humble guy. He just goes about his work. Throughout the tournament, he has been our standout performer,” said Morgan.

There was a bereavement in the family but Rana kept personal tragedy aside to come up with his second half-century this season and 10th overall, to set the tone.

Southpaw Rana, sent in to open, set the tone along with fellow left-hander Sunil Narine, scored 81 from 53 deliveries with 13 boundaries and one six, while the latter made a 31-ball 64 that contained six fours and four sixes as the Kolkata Knight Riders posted 194-6.

After which Chakravarthy and Cummins did the damage. Delhi Capitals skipper Shreyas Iyer made a valiant 47 from 38 balls with five boundaries before becoming one of Chakravarthy’s victims.

Rana and Narine put together a partnership of 115 runs for the fourth wicket after the Knight Riders were three down for 42, after being sent into bat. Rana and captain Eoin Morgan then added 37 for the fifth wicket with the Englishman striking a nine-ball 17 that had two boundaries and a six.

Rana, whose father-in-law Surinder Marwah passed away due to cancer on Friday, paid tribute to him by holding a KKR jersey with his name.

Anrich Nortje, who bowled the fastest delivery in IPL history, picked two wickets and so did Purple Cap holder Kagiso Rabada and Marcus Stoinis.

The Kolkata Knight Riders made two changes with Narine replacing Tom Banton and pacer Kamlesh Nagarkoti coming in for chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav.

The Delhi Capitals too had two changes as Ajinkya Rahane replaced Prithvi Shaw, while Nortje slotted back into the line-up in place of Daniel Sams.

Brief scores:

Kolkata Knight Riders: 194-6 in 20 overs (Nitish Rana 81, Sunil Narine 64, Eoin Morgan 17, Anrich Nortje 2-27, Kagiso Rabada 2-33, Marcus Stoinis 2-41) beat Delhi Capitals: 135-9 in 20 overes (Shreyas Iyer 47, Rishabh Pant 27, Varun Chakravarthy 5-20, Pat Cummins 3-17) by 59 runs.

james@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai