Varun Chakravarthy
Varun Chakravarthy. Image Credits: Twitter

Former Indian cricketer, Aakash Chopra thinks Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) leg spinner, Varun Chakravarthy can be used as an ‘Impact Player’ in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, this is one of the newly added rules that will be included in the IPL 2023, according to this new substitute player rule, a team can swap any player from the bench to playing XI for bowling or batting in between the game.

Chopra thinks the young spinner can be used as an ‘Impact Player’ because KKR would not be needing his batting, and he can be brought into the game for bowling only.

Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra. Image Credits: Twitter

Aakash Chopra feels if it is a turning track, Varun Chakravarthy can be brought-

“They have options in bowling. You can use either Vaibhav Arora or Kulwant Khejrolia as the Impact Player. If the ball is turning, you can use your spinner as the Impact Player. I feel Varun Chakravarthy can also be the Impact Player because you won’t need his batting,” said former Indian cricketer.

While Chakravarthy picked up only six wickets in the 11 matches he played in IPL 2022, while his club finished in the 7th spot in the last season. Another leggie, West Indies player, Sunil Narine managed only nine wickets in 14 games but had an exceptional economy rate of 5.57 in the 2022 edition.

“Umesh Yadav bowled extremely well with the new ball last year. I expect the same, at least on the home ground because the ball will swing there. So Umesh Yadav is one and along with him in the Indian bowling you have Shardul Thakur,”

“He (Shardul) can be slightly expensive but is a wicket-taker. You have two spinners in the form of Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine and if you want, you can play Anukul Roy as well. So this base is covered, you are absolutely fine,” he further added.

Earlier, Commentator-turned-cricketer believes KKR have very less chance of making it into the playoffs of the 16th edition of the IPL. As KKR suffered a huge blow by losing out their skipper Shreyas Iyer due to a back injury.

Speaking on his YouTube Channel, about the chances of the two-time champions making it to the final four of the league. Chopra feels the Kolkata-based side has only a 50 per cent chance to make it to the playoff–and added according to him, the team looks like a mid-table team in IPL 16.
IPL 2023 will begin on March 31 with the opening game between defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), while KKR will play start their campaign on April 1 against Punjab Kings in Mohali.