Concerns Over Ajinkya Rahane’s Captaincy: Irfan Pathan’s Insights

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has voiced his concerns regarding Ajinkya Rahane’s captaincy, particularly in the context of Varun Chakaravarthy’s performance during the Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) recent defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Varun Chakaravarthy’s Struggles

Pathan highlighted that Varun Chakaravarthy has been struggling with his rhythm since the T20 World Cup. Despite finishing the tournament with 14 wickets, joint-high with Jasprit Bumrah, his economy rate raised eyebrows, averaging over nine runs an over. His struggles were notably evident against South Africa, where he leaked 47 runs during a significant defeat.

IPL Performance and Captaincy Tactics

This dip in form has persisted into the current IPL season, as Varun leaked 48 runs in just four overs against the Mumbai Indians and followed up with another costly outing against SRH, conceding 31 runs in just two overs. Pathan emphasized Rahane’s critical role during such challenging periods, especially when a key bowler is low on confidence.

“Captain plays a big role to get your confidence up as a bowler. If he doesn’t support you in a moment where you think you can do better…this is why he (Varun) should not have bowled in the power play,” Pathan remarked on ESPNCricinfo.

The Powerplay Decision

Pathan noted that Varun was introduced during the powerplay and faced a challenging over, yielding 25 runs in just a single over. While he did bounce back strongly in his subsequent spell, Rahane did not allow him to complete his full quota of overs, which further amplified the pressure on the bowler.

Tactical Mistakes and Future Implications

Pathan critiqued the decision to bowl Varun early, arguing it added unnecessary pressure on a player who has been a match-winner for KKR in the past. He stated, “You are losing on a bowler who can be your trump card…This is where Ajinkya Rahane did really well in the second half, but the first half was messed up with Varun Chakaravarthy by bowling him in the power play."

Looking Ahead

With Varun’s form under scrutiny and KKR struggling to find balance early in the season, Rahane’s tactical decisions will likely remain in the spotlight as the IPL progresses. The team will need to adapt quickly to ensure they harness the potential of their key players to improve performance moving forward.