IPL 2025: Varun Chakaravarthy Opens Up On Art Of The Mystery And Fleeting Confidence Of Success

“Confidence is very subjective, as in every new tournament. Even if you win the last tournament, you have to start from scratch," Chakaravarthy said at the pre-match press conference on Friday.

“You have to start from zero as they say. If you score 100 previous match, you start from zero. So similarly, yes, we have done, I did well in the last tournament. But still, IPL is a different ball game and it’s a different beast and very well know what’s coming my way. And yeah, I have to be on my toes," he added.

And his fingers will do the talking as, despite his success in and outside of India, the mystery is something Varun says he works hard to maintain.

“So basically whenever I play some domestic, I try to work some new ball in it and similarly every year I try to bowl something new and last year it worked out, before that it didn’t work out much. So it just depends. Obviously, I do have few balls up my sleeve, but it all depends on how it is going to come out of my hand and depends on many other factors," he said.

“Basically, the ball can deviate only in 3 ways. It can go left, right or straight. So it just depends on how I am going to choose those balls. The sequencing of if I am going to go off spin right now or a right leg spin right now. It just depends. That’s where the tactical side of the game comes and that’s where I’m trying to improve," he added.

When asked about the changes in KKR’s title-winning squad, Varun sounded appreciative of the team management’s attempts to retain the core of the side that was victorious in Chennai last year.

“Well, it’s bound to happen every year. And how the IPL is structured, even if you win a championship, they’re bound to go into the auction and obviously the core players end up changing. But still we have, I think the management has managed to retain almost nine members of the previous squad. So it’s a good thing and hopefully we can hit the card from the first match itself."

Flower Not Worried About Firepower

As for KKR’s opposition in the first game, RCB has managed to rope in a couple of former Knights to aid in their maiden title. RCB boss Andy Flower is wary of the threat that Varun and his spin partner Sunil Narine pose, especially at home.

“That is why you play this game at this level. It is to test yourself against the best in the world," Flower argues.

When quizzed about his own side’s spin attack, the former Zimbabwean legend said the likes of a ‘courageous’ Krunal Pandya, Suyash Sharma, who is no Shane Warne, with Liam Livingstone capable of tweaking things.

Flower lauded the ‘multiple’ leaders in the squad who can help Rajat Patidar.

“I think he is really excited about his challenge and it’s a brilliant challenge for him and we are, we are right behind him," Flower said.

Flower was asked about going up against ‘a tremendous batting lineup and some mystery bowlers as well’, Flower shot back immediately: “Yes, I agree. It’s a very daunting much for Calcutta."