The IPL 2026 season is getting closer, and Kolkata Knight Riders are closely watching the form of two important players, Rinku Singh and Varun Chakravarthy. Both players have played key roles for the team in previous seasons, but their recent performances have raised some concerns.
If KKR want to perform strongly this season, the team will need these two players to return to their best form.
Rinku Singh’s recent IPL form
Rinku Singh has been a reliable finisher for Kolkata Knight Riders in the past. His performances in IPL 2023 made him one of the most talked-about players in the tournament.
However, his form dropped last season. He scored only 206 runs in 13 matches, which was much lower than expectations.
| Season | Matches | Runs | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| IPL 2023 | 14 | 474 | Breakout season |
| IPL 2025 | 13 | 206 | Struggled for consistency |
Because of this drop in form, many experts believe KKR need Rinku to return to his earlier level if they want to compete strongly.
Irfan Pathan’s view on Rinku Singh
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan also spoke about Rinku Singh’s performance.
He mentioned that Rinku had an excellent IPL season in 2023, scoring around 400 to 450 runs with a strike rate close to 150. But since then, his performance has not been the same.
Pathan also referred to Rinku’s performance in the recent T20 World Cup. In that tournament, Rinku scored only 24 runs across five innings.
| Tournament | Innings | Runs |
|---|---|---|
| T20 World Cup 2026 | 5 | 24 |
Pathan believes Rinku needs to make better use of the opportunities he gets and maintain the standard he showed earlier in his career.
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Varun Chakravarthy’s performance under discussion
Varun Chakravarthy is another important player for Kolkata Knight Riders. His mystery spin has often helped the team control the middle overs and take key wickets.
However, there are concerns about his recent performances as well.
In his last 22 innings, he has taken 374 runs at an average of around 23 without scoring a fifty.
| Matches / Innings | Runs | Average | Fifties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 374 | 23 | 0 |
Experts believe Varun needs to regain confidence and return to the level he showed during his best IPL seasons.
Pathan believes Varun can bounce back
Irfan Pathan also spoke about Varun Chakravarthy’s situation. According to him, the main challenge for the team is to help Varun regain his confidence.
He believes the spinner has performed well in the IPL before and still has the ability to succeed.
Playing matches at Kolkata’s home ground could also help Varun because he has good memories and strong performances there.
| Season | Matches | Wickets |
|---|---|---|
| Last IPL season | 14 | 17 |
Fans will hope he can repeat similar numbers in IPL 2026.
Why Rinku and Varun are important for KKR
Both players play key roles in the team.
| Player | Role in Team |
|---|---|
| Rinku Singh | Finisher and middle-order batter |
| Varun Chakravarthy | Main spinner and middle-overs wicket-taker |
If Rinku scores important runs in the middle order and Varun controls the bowling during the middle overs, KKR’s overall balance becomes much stronger.
However, if their form continues to struggle, it could create challenges for the team during the tournament.
As IPL 2026 approaches, Kolkata Knight Riders will be hoping both players return to their best form and help the team build a successful campaign this season.
