Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) spinner Varun Chakravarthy has been fined 25% of his match fees and docked one demerit point for a code of conduct violation in their recent matchup against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Eden Gardens. The ruling, articulated by IPL authorities, cited Article 2.5—a clause referencing provocative language or gestures directed towards a dismissed batter—as the grounds for this decision.
Although the IPL did not provide specific details of the incident, it is known that Chakravarthy’s actions followed the dismissal of Dewald Brevis, to whom he gestured in a manner likely to incite a reaction. This behaviour falls under a Level 1 offence, leaving the match referee’s judgement as conclusive.
Brevis, who had scored a quickfire 52 off 25 balls, seemed temporarily to shift the momentum back to KKR upon his departure. Chakravarthy delivered an impressive spell, claiming two wickets for 18 runs across four overs. However, KKR couldn’t defend their score of 179, ultimately slipping to defeat. As things stand, KKR are positioned sixth in the league table, securing 11 points from 12 outings. Their chances of making the playoffs now remain slim, with only two away games left—against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on 10th May and against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on 17th May.
In the aftermath of the match, cricket experts like Tom Moody, Abhinav Mukund, and Matt Roller have been contemplating KKR’s possible trajectory for the remainder of the season. While their analysis points out several areas needing refinement, the team’s resilience will undoubtedly be tested in the coming matches.
