Varun Chakravarthy has become the mystery spinner Kolkata Knight Riders refuse to release. Across seven IPL seasons—six with KKR and his 2019 debut with Punjab Kings—the Tamil Nadu leg-spinner has pocketed 100 wickets in just 83 bowling innings. His economy rate of 7.58 runs per over is built on 1,888 balls of relentless pressure, and every 18.88 balls he strikes again. The 31-year-old has turned games on their heads eight times with three-wicket bursts and once produced a magical 5-wicket haul that still echoes in IPL folklore. While his batting card shows only 26 runs from 47 balls, those numbers underline a man hired to bamboozle, not belt. With KKR retaining him from 2020 through the 2025 auction, Varun Chakravarthy remains the Purple spin king Eden Gardens trusts to defend totals and shatter chase scripts.

Ajinkya Rahane IPL journey spans 17 seasons, 183 innings and a mountain of 5,032 runs that have come off 4,025 balls at a brisk strike-rate of 125. The Mumbai-born right-hander has punished bowlers for 514 fours and 123 sixes, crossing fifty 33 times and reaching three figures on two memorable occasions, the highest being an unbeaten 105. After stints with Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Rising Pune Supergiant, Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings, he is back with Kolkata Knight Riders for IPL 2025. While Rahane has rolled his arm over only once in the league, picking up a solitary wicket in a six-ball cameo that cost five runs, he remains celebrated as one of the league’s most technically sound and consistent top-order batsmen.

Note: This overview is partially generated using AI and is based on statistical data. Please verify with official sources for complete accuracy.