Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have landed in controversy after reports emerged that injured spinner Varun Chakravarthy was made to play despite suffering a fractured left foot during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.
The issue sparked major debate after Chakravarthy was seen struggling physically while completing his spell against Gujarat Titans (GT). The mystery spinner reportedly played through a hairline fracture, raising questions over the franchise’s handling of centrally contracted Indian players.
Devajit Saikia opens up on BCCI’s stance
Amid the growing controversy, Devajit Saikia made the board’s position clear regarding the situation involving Kolkata Knight Riders and Varun Chakravarthy.
Saikia admitted that the BCCI cannot directly interfere in franchise-related matters while the IPL season is ongoing. However, there remains an understanding between IPL franchises and the Indian board regarding the medical management of centrally contracted players.
"So far as IPL is concerned, franchises take care of the injuries and fitness of the players. Of course physios from COE (Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru) are also monitoring them, workload as well as plan on how to keep them fit," Saikia said.
"The monitoring is there but when IPL is going on, we cannot interfere too much, had it been Indian team situation, our control would have been more," Saikia added.
As per standard protocol, franchise physiotherapists are expected to remain in regular contact with the Indian team’s medical staff regarding player fitness and injuries. The BCCI can also alert franchises if a player’s injury risks worsening through continued participation.
Despite that, the final call during the tournament largely remains with the franchises and their medical teams.
Also Read: Mitchell Marsh scripts historic IPL milestone, becomes first-ever LSG batter to...
Varun Chakravarthy’s injury sparks criticism
The controversy intensified after Varun Chakravarthy visibly hobbled through his bowling spell during KKR’s clash against Gujarat Titans. Several reports later claimed that the spinner had been carrying a fractured left foot while playing the match.
The development led to criticism of the KKR management and support staff, including questions surrounding the decision-making of the coaching setup led by Abhishek Nayar and company.
With Varun being one of India’s centrally contracted players, concerns were also raised regarding his long-term fitness and whether the injury could worsen ahead of future international assignments.
The incident has now triggered a larger debate around player workload management and the responsibilities of IPL franchises while handling injured Indian players during the tournament.