Varun Chakravarthy Fined for Breach of Conduct as KKR's Playoff Hopes Fade

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) spinner Varun Chakravarthy has been fined 25% of his match fees and handed one demerit point for violating the IPL Code of Conduct during the match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Eden Gardens on Wednesday. While the IPL did not detail the incident, it stated that the breach was a Level 1 offence under Article 2.5, which pertains to any language, action, or gesture directed at a batter upon dismissal that could provoke an aggressive reaction.

The breach likely stemmed from Varun’s visible send-off to Dewald Brevis, who had been in explosive form with 52 off 25 balls. After dismissing the CSK batter, Varun gestured for him to leave the field — an act that was deemed unsportsmanlike by match officials. Under IPL regulations, for Level 1 offences, the match referee's decision is final and binding, and no appeal process is entertained.

Despite Varun’s economical and disciplined spell — 2 for 18 in 4 overs — KKR failed to defend their total of 179. CSK, buoyed by contributions from Brevis, Urvil Patel, and a finishing touch from MS Dhoni, chased down the target in a tense finish. The loss dealt a blow to KKR's playoff aspirations. They now sit sixth on the points table with 11 points from 12 matches, and will likely need to win both of their remaining league games to stay in contention. Their final two fixtures are away matches — against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on May 10 and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on May 17 — both must-win encounters in what has become a tight mid-table race.

Catch the match live updates, highlights, and full match coverage on CricRadio. Get fast, accurate, and ad-free updates throughout the game. Download the CricRadio app from the Play Store to stay connected. You can also get the live scores of cricket series directly on the CricRadio website for real-time coverage.