KKR’s Varun Chakaravarthy celebrated with Moeen Ali after taking the wicket of RR’s Hasaranga at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on May 4, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Ritu Raj Konwar

Backing 37-year-old Andre Russell, the hero of Kolkata Knight Riders’ one-run win over Rajasthan Royal in the Indian Premier League at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday (May 4, 2025), spinner Varun Chakaravarthy revealed that his Caribbean team-mate aspired to continue playing for a few more years.

“As far as I have spoken to him and interacted with him, he still wants to play another two-three (auction) cycles of the IPL which is easily six more years. He looks fine and fit. It doesn’t matter how old you are,” said Varun.

Varun, who took two wickets, rejected the notion that Russell could not play spin well. “If you are able to contribute to the team, that’s enough in a franchise. He made that choice not to attack the spinners. But that’s not the truth that he can’t hit spin. He can hammer spin,” he said.

According to Varun, such tight matches would give KKR momentum and self-belief. “This is exactly what we needed. I am hopeful that we can pull off the next three matches. We have done it before.”

RR batting coach Vikram Rathore regretted that his team’s batters could not finish the match. “Today we gave maybe 15 20 extra runs. Riyan (Parag) got us into a position where we should have won as well. Unfortunately, we couldn’t finish off,” said Rathore.

Rathore said even though individually the RR players did well but collectively they could not.