Varun Chakravarthy IPL Records – Wickets and Career Stats

Varun Chakravarthy has developed into one of the most effective mystery spinners in Indian Premier League history. After making his IPL debut in 2019, he became a key member of Kolkata Knight Riders and built his reputation through control, variations and regular wickets in the middle overs. Through IPL 2026, Varun Chakravarthy has played 95 matches and taken 111 wickets at an average of 24.73 and an economy rate of 7.72. His best bowling figures remain 5/20, recorded against Delhi Capitals in IPL 2020. His strongest seasons include 20 wickets in 2023, 21 in KKR's title-winning 2024 campaign and another 17 wickets in 2025.

Varun Chakravarthy IPL Career Stats

Varun's overall numbers show why he has remained such an important bowler for KKR. He has conceded fewer than eight runs per over across a long IPL career despite bowling regularly during the middle overs, when batters often look to increase the scoring rate. His strike rate of 19.23 means he has taken a wicket roughly once every 19 balls.

Varun Chakravarthy IPL Season-by-Season Stats

Varun's career has not followed a straight upward line. He had an excellent first two full seasons with KKR in 2020 and 2021 before struggling in 2022. He then responded with 20 wickets in 2023 and a career-best season tally of 21 wickets in 2024. His 17 wickets in 2025 again showed his value as KKR's primary wicket-taking spinner.

Varun Chakravarthy at Kolkata Knight Riders

Varun Chakravarthy's IPL career is closely connected with Kolkata Knight Riders. His first IPL appearance came for Kings XI Punjab in 2019, but he played only one match that season and returned figures of 1/35.

KKR signed him before IPL 2020, and the move completely changed his career. Varun immediately became one of the franchise's main spin options. His ability to bowl different deliveries without major changes in action made him difficult for batters to read, particularly on slower surfaces.

He took 17 wickets in 13 matches during IPL 2020 at an economy rate of 6.85. That season also produced his famous five-wicket haul against Delhi Capitals.

Varun improved further in 2021. He took 18 wickets from 17 matches and conceded only 6.59 runs per over, the best full-season economy rate of his IPL career. KKR reached the final that year before losing to Chennai Super Kings.

His partnership with Sunil Narine became one of KKR's main bowling strengths. Narine often controlled the scoring rate from one end while Varun attacked the stumps and looked for wickets from the other. In recent seasons, Varun has increasingly become the more aggressive wicket-taking member of the combination.

Varun Chakravarthy's 5/20 Against Delhi Capitals

The most famous bowling spell of Varun Chakravarthy's IPL career came against Delhi Capitals in IPL 2020.

KKR had scored a strong total before Delhi began their chase in Abu Dhabi. Varun then produced a match-winning spell of 5/20, removing several important batters and completely changing the direction of the game.

He dismissed Rishabh Pant, Shimron Hetmyer, Shreyas Iyer, Marcus Stoinis and Axar Patel during the spell as Delhi's chase collapsed. Kolkata eventually completed a comfortable victory.

The performance remains Varun's only five-wicket haul in the IPL and his career-best bowling figures.

Best Bowling Spells of Varun Chakravarthy in IPL

The 5/20 remains his standout performance, but some of his three- and four-wicket spells have also come in important matches.

His 4/15 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2023 was particularly important during a season in which he returned to his best form after a difficult 2022 campaign.

In IPL 2026, he produced 3/14 against Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens. Rajasthan had made a strong start, but Varun's spell helped KKR pull the innings back through the middle overs.

Varun Chakravarthy IPL 2020

IPL 2020 established Varun as a serious IPL bowler. He played 13 matches and took 17 wickets at an average of 20.94.

More impressive was his economy rate of 6.85. Batters found it difficult to attack his variations on the UAE pitches, and his control allowed KKR to use him at different stages of the innings.

His 5/20 against Delhi Capitals became the defining performance of the season and remains his best IPL bowling figure.

Varun Chakravarthy IPL 2021

Varun followed his breakthrough year with another strong season in 2021.

He took 18 wickets in 17 matches at an economy rate of only 6.59. That remains his best economy rate for a complete IPL season.

The tournament was played partly in India and partly in the UAE. His performances were particularly strong after the competition moved to the UAE. During the UAE leg, his control improved significantly, and he played an important role in KKR's run to the final.

Varun Chakravarthy IPL 2022

IPL 2022 was the most difficult season of Varun's career.

He managed only six wickets from 11 matches at an average of 55.33 and an economy rate of 8.51. His wicket-taking strike rate dropped sharply compared with the previous two campaigns.

Batters attacked him more aggressively, while the conditions in Mumbai and Pune were less helpful to spin than the UAE surfaces he had enjoyed in previous seasons.

The poor season raised questions about whether batters had begun to understand his variations. Varun responded strongly over the following two years.

Varun Chakravarthy IPL 2023

Varun returned to form in IPL 2023 with one of the best seasons of his career.

He took 20 wickets from 14 matches at an average of 21.45. His best figures were 4/15, and he became KKR's leading wicket-taker for the campaign.

Although his economy rate increased to 8.15, he compensated by taking wickets regularly. His strike rate improved to 15.80, meaning he was taking a wicket approximately every 16 deliveries.

Varun Chakravarthy IPL 2024

IPL 2024 was Varun Chakravarthy's most successful season in terms of total wickets.

He took 21 wickets from 15 matches at an average of 19.14. His best figures were 3/16, while his bowling strike rate improved to around 14.3.

Varun finished as one of the leading wicket-takers in the competition and played a major role in KKR winning their third IPL title.

KKR's bowling attack contained several strong options, but the combination of Varun and Sunil Narine was particularly effective through the middle overs. Varun's 21 wickets represented his highest season tally at that stage of his career.

Varun Chakravarthy IPL 2025

KKR retained Varun for ₹12 crore before IPL 2025, showing how important he had become to their bowling plans.

He played 13 matches and took 17 wickets at an average of 22.53. His economy rate of 7.66 was better than both his 2023 and 2024 figures, while his best bowling performance was 3/22.

One of his better performances came against Rajasthan Royals, where he took 2/17 in four overs and helped KKR restrict the opposition before a comfortable chase.

Varun Chakravarthy IPL 2026

Varun continued with KKR in IPL 2026 and played 11 matches.

He took 11 wickets at an average of 32.73 and an economy rate of 8.78. His best performance was 3/14 against Rajasthan Royals.

The season was less productive than the previous three years, but he still produced several useful spells. He took 2/34 against Gujarat Titans, 3/14 against Rajasthan Royals, 2/33 against Lucknow Super Giants and 3/36 against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Varun Chakravarthy Economy Record in IPL

Varun's career economy rate of 7.72 is impressive for a bowler who has spent much of his career operating in the middle overs of T20 matches.

His best full-season economy came in IPL 2021, when he conceded only 6.59 runs per over.

That number becomes even more impressive when compared with the normal scoring rates in modern IPL cricket. Varun has often bowled between overs seven and sixteen, a phase where set batters usually target spin.

His ability to bowl at the stumps, change pace and vary the direction of spin has helped him limit boundaries while remaining a wicket-taking threat.

Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine

Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine have formed one of the most recognizable spin partnerships in the IPL.

Narine has spent more than a decade at KKR, while Varun gradually developed into another central member of the franchise's bowling attack.

Their styles complement each other. Narine has frequently operated as the control bowler, forcing batters to take risks elsewhere. Varun has increasingly been used to attack new batters and break partnerships.

Between 2023 and 2024, Varun took 41 wickets, while Narine contributed 28 across those two seasons. Their combined control was an important factor behind KKR's championship-winning campaign in 2024.

Varun Chakravarthy Wickets by Season

His consistency after 2022 stands out. From 2023 through 2025, Varun collected 58 wickets in three seasons, including consecutive campaigns of 20 or more wickets in 2023 and 2024.

Conclusion

Varun Chakravarthy IPL records show how a late-developing mystery spinner became one of Kolkata Knight Riders' most important bowlers. Through IPL 2026, he has played 95 matches and taken 111 wickets at an average of 24.73, an economy rate of 7.72 and a strike rate of 19.23.

His career-best figures of 5/20 against Delhi Capitals remain his most memorable spell, but his long-term consistency is equally important. He took 17 wickets in 2020, 18 in 2021, 20 in 2023 and a career-best 21 wickets during KKR's championship-winning 2024 season.

Varun has also shown an ability to recover from setbacks. After taking only six wickets in 2022, he returned with 20 wickets the following season and became one of the IPL's leading spinners again.

With more than 100 IPL wickets and an economy rate below eight, Varun Chakravarthy has already built a strong record among the leading spin bowlers of his generation.

FAQs

How many wickets has Varun Chakravarthy taken in IPL?

Varun Chakravarthy has taken 111 wickets in 95 IPL matches through the 2026 season.

What are Varun Chakravarthy's best IPL bowling figures?

His best IPL bowling figures are 5/20 against Delhi Capitals in IPL 2020.

How many five-wicket hauls does Varun Chakravarthy have in IPL?

He has taken one five-wicket haul in the IPL.

What is Varun Chakravarthy's IPL bowling average?

His career IPL bowling average is 24.73.

What is Varun Chakravarthy's IPL economy rate?

His career economy rate is 7.72 runs per over.

What is Varun Chakravarthy's IPL bowling strike rate?

His career bowling strike rate is 19.23.

How many wickets did Varun Chakravarthy take in IPL 2024?

He took 21 wickets in 15 matches during IPL 2024, his highest season total.

How many wickets did Varun Chakravarthy take in IPL 2025?

He took 17 wickets from 13 matches at an average of 22.53.

How many wickets did Varun Chakravarthy take in IPL 2026?

He took 11 wickets from 11 matches, with best figures of 3/14.

Which IPL team does Varun Chakravarthy play for?

Varun Chakravarthy has been a key Kolkata Knight Riders bowler since IPL 2020.

Did Varun Chakravarthy play for any team before KKR?

Yes. He made his IPL debut for Kings XI Punjab, now Punjab Kings, in 2019.

What was Varun Chakravarthy's best IPL season?

In terms of total wickets, IPL 2024 was his best season. He took 21 wickets and helped KKR win the title.

What was Varun Chakravarthy's best economy season?

His best full-season economy rate came in 2021, when he conceded only 6.59 runs per over.

How many wickets did Varun Chakravarthy take in IPL 2023?

He took 20 wickets in 14 matches, including best figures of 4/15.

Who did Varun Chakravarthy take 5/20 against?

He recorded figures of 5/20 against Delhi Capitals during IPL 2020.

Has Varun Chakravarthy won an IPL title?

Yes. He was an important member of Kolkata Knight Riders when they won the IPL 2024 title.