IPL 2021 – KKR awaits for Varun Chakravarthy’s arrival: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has started preparing for IPL 2021. The IPL franchise based out of Kolkata has even started their training camp – but status on fitness of their most succesful spinner in IPL 2020 is still not clear. KKR management is not sure when will mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy will join the training camp.
IPL 2021 – Varun Chakravarthy’s fitness status? KKR’s spinner failed BCCI’s new yo-yo test. For the 29-year-old, this is the second time he missed out on an opportunity for a potential India debut, having initially been picked in the T20I squad for the tour of Australia, but ruled out due to a shoulder injury and now the same is repeated again in the T20 Series vs England.
Chakravarthy is currently at NCA. KKR is unsure when will he join the KKR camp to prepare for IPL 2021. When asked, will they speak to BCCI on the status of Chakravarthy?
“No such plan as of now. Not just Varun, we will sit and discuss all pending issues with team management,” said a top KKR official.
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Chakravarthy’s fitness has been a concern for the team selectors. The Karnataka-born riding on the back of his IPL 2020 performances, was picked for the Australian tour. But an untimely shoulder injury ruled him out of the series.
However, this time the scenario is different. Although physically fit, he could not pass BCCI’s new fitness test to be eligible for selection. As per the fitness benchmark, a player needs to either clear the yo-yo test or the 2km time trial (8.30 minutes).
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IPL 2021: Few Indian Premier League franchises are also not happy with the BCCI’s fitness test and called it ‘unfair.
Backing Chakravarthy, Venky Mysore, KKR’s CEO, questioned this new method.
In reply to cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle’s tweet apropos of Chakravarthy, Mysore said:”@bhogleharsha, he has more skills than most we have seen, but maybe a few seconds slower in a sprint…I wonder how many greats of yesteryears, cricket would have lost, based on the current “standards!”
The Kolkata-franchise have started their camp for the upcoming season. Former skipper Dinesh Karthik and pacer Kamlesh Nagarkoti are amongst a few players who have joined the ‘KKR Academy’.