Watson says Varun Chakaravarthy may return for KKR on May 12 — Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Gujarat Titans Standings
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Gujarat Titans standings took another turn with Shane Watson saying Varun Chakaravarthy is being monitored closely and may be available for KKR’s game on May 12, 2026. KKR opened IPL 2026 with no wins in their first six games, then responded with four wins in a row, so every availability update now feeds directly into their playoff push.
Watson on Varun Chakaravarthy
Watson said Chakaravarthy was “a bit sore in the second last game and was in a lot of pain in the last one, even though he’s still bowling incredibly well. We’ve got our fingers crossed that he’ll be available for tomorrow, but we’re just not exactly sure.” The spinner had also been seen wearing a protective boot in visuals on social media, which made his status the most watched item in KKR’s build-up to the match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Raipur.
The update comes at a time when KKR’s season has already moved sharply from one extreme to another. They were winless through six games, then put together four straight victories before the Raipur match, and Watson said that swing was tied to the time it took to settle a squad with major turnover from last season’s auction.
KKR’s settled batting order
Watson said the group has started to find its shape. “It was always going to take a bit of time to work out where everyone was going to fit into the squad, because there was quite a bit of turnover from last season with the players we got at the auction. And now that things have come together very nicely, our batting order is much more settled, we’ve got more of an understanding of what really works for us with the make-up of our complete team.”
He also pointed to the batting work that has driven the recent run. “The conversations have just been [about] continual learning and development from every batter. In that last game [against DC], we ticked every box, and that’s what we’re chasing, to be able to try and play those complete games.” That kind of consistency is what KKR need if they are to keep the momentum from those four wins from sliding away.
Pathirana and Cameron Green
Matheesha Pathirana has still not played since joining the squad mid-April, but Watson said he “continues to push his case” and is “fit and ready to go.” He added that Pathirana has been hard to fit into the playing 11 or 12 because of the way the team has been set up, even though the bowler’s availability gives the group “a lot of confidence.”
Watson also addressed Cameron Green, whom KKR bought for Rs. 25.20 crore at the auction. “It is always challenging for people who come with a very high price tag. It’s something that Cameron has experienced in the past as well. If you really look at his professional cricket career, he hasn’t played a lot of T20 cricket. I am just loving every minute of having the chance to be able to guide him and help him get the very best out of himself as a cricketer.” With Chakaravarthy being monitored and Pathirana still pressing for a first outing, KKR’s next selection call is about more than one matchday; it is about keeping a rebuilt squad aligned with a run that has already dragged them back into the contest.
