Written by Vaibhav Tripathi
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming openly admitted that the franchise continues to feel the sting of not acquiring Varun Chakaravarthy during the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction. It is a decision that haunts them to this day, considering Chakaravarthy’s prior involvement as a net bowler for CSK over the years.
Chakaravarthy rose to prominence with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2020, impressively claiming 17 wickets in 13 matches. Since then, he has remained a captivating presence on the field, showcasing his exceptional talent in the 2023 IPL season. Currently representing KKR, Varun has already made a significant impact by securing an impressive tally of 19 wickets, showcasing his most remarkable performance since his inception in the IPL.
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“It still hurts us (missing out on Varun). He tortured us in the nets for a number of years. Just with the auctions, the way it is, we couldn’t retain him. The thing is with Tamil Nadu players all round in different teams, they knew about him as well. We were unable to keep him a secret. We were very excited by him as a talent when he bowled against us in the nets. And we would have loved him for a big price this year. He bowled very well today, he’s a weapon,” Stephen Fleming said in the press conference after the CSK vs KKR game.