If the ball is turning, Varun Chakravarthy can also be the Impact Player for KKR: Aakash Chopra

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra assessed Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) bowling unit ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 and opined on the ‘Impact Player’ options. He added that the franchise could use Varun Chakravarthy as an impact substitute on a turning track.

The Kolkata-based franchise boasts a well-rounded mix of overseas and young talent for the forthcoming edition. While the franchise has various options to choose from in the bowling unit, however, without regular skipper Shreyas Iyer, the batting line-up could be up for a significant task to fill the void. Furthermore, with the inclusion of the new Impact player rule, the cricketer-turned-broadcaster suggested that KKR could use Varun Chakravarthy as a potential substitute. 

“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. You have two spinners in the form of Varun and Sunil Narine and if you want, you can play Anukul Roy as well. So, this base is covered; you are absolutely fine,” Aakash Chopra shared his views on his YouTube channel.

Notably, the 31-year-old spinner had an underwhelming run in 2022, as he could only manage to pick up six wickets in 11 matches. Furthermore, he proved slightly expensive as he concluded the season with an economy of 8.51. 

Nitish Rana to lead KKR in IPL 2023

KKR were handed a significant blow in the form of Shreyas Iyer’s injury as he is still reassessing medical options while recovering from his back injury. Furthermore, the flamboyant batter is likely to miss the first half of the IPL, which is why KKR have named Nitish Rana as the interim captain for the forthcoming edition. 

In 2022, Rana was the second-highest run-getter for the franchise, with 361 runs to his name in 14 outings. He will look to ply his trade for Kolkata and will aim to compete for the title as the leader of the side. KKR kickstart their campaign on Saturday, April 1, against Punjab Kings at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali.