India and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) spinner Varun Chakaravarthy recently spoke about his father’s initial concerns regarding his cricket career. During a conversation on Ravichandran Ashwin’s YouTube channel, Varun shared that his father believed he was only involved in tennis ball cricket.
It wasn’t until he watched Varun play in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) that he began to take his son’s cricketing ambitions seriously.
“My dad was really concerned. Till I played TNPL he thought I was just playing tennis ball cricket. Once he saw me on TV only he got to know I am playing cricket. When you know that your son is 26 and not doing anything parents need to tell something, kick him in the back. They (parents) told me to try to do something,” he said. (37:47)
In addition to featuring in the TNPL, Varun Chakaravarthy has made a mark in the IPL and on the international stage with Team India. He has appeared in 84 IPL matches, claiming 100 wickets, and was part of Kolkata Knight Riders’ title-winning squad in 2024.
The 33-year-old has also represented India in four ODIs, taking 10 wickets and playing a crucial role in their 2025 Champions Trophy victory. Furthermore, he has played 18 T20 Internationals, where he has picked up 33 wickets.
Varun Chakaravarthy Shares How His Mother Reacted To His Maiden IPL Selection
Varun Chakaravarthy‘s IPL career took off in 2019 when he was signed by Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) for a staggering ₹8.4 crore. Reflecting on the moment, Varun admitted that the hefty price tag left him feeling intimidated. He also shared that his mother was equally stunned by the amount he was bought for.
“I was in Thanjavur back then and I literally got scared. Scared by the amount. My mom was like what is this, it is keeping on going up. She was shocked and I was also shocked. I just thought I would go for the base price,” he said. (38:41)
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