Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming has admitted that not going after mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy “still hurts us”. Before getting picked by Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 edition, Chakravarthy was CSK’s net bowler for few years while he played in minor local leagues.
In his first match at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chakaravarthy was slightly expensive but picked up crucial wickets of opener Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ajinkya Rahane that pushed them on the back foot.
"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," Fleming said at the post-match press conference.
In IPL 2019 auction, CSK bid for Chakravarthy till Rs 3.4 crore. After an intense bidding war with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), PBKS picked him for a whopping Rs 8.4 crore.
In his debut season, he played just one game and took one wicket while conceding 35 runs from three wickets. He was released by PBKS and was picked by KKR in IPL 2020 auction for Rs 4 crore. CSK did not even bid for him once in the auction.
"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," the former New Zealand skipper added.
In his first season for KKR, he got backed by the management and picked up 17 wickets from 13 games including a fifer. He also conceded runs at an economy rate of 6.84 runs per over. In the ongoing season, he has taken 19 wickets already from 13 games, his best IPL run so far.
CSK are currently second on the points table with 15 points from 13 games. The MS Dhoni-led side will take on Delhi Capitals (DC) in their last league clash on May 20 at Arun Jaitley Stadium.
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