IPL 2019: 3 teams that could be in contention to buy Varun Chakravarthy

The IPL 2018 auction featured 578 players who went under the hammer to be a part of cricket’s mega event. The player auction in 2019 will not be such a grand affair with the three-year contracts already in place.

However, the teams will be looking to plug the gaps in the team formation and strategies. The mystery spinner from Tamil Nadu, Varun Chakravarthy, can be crucial in this regard.

Chakravarthy’s rise in the Indian domestic cricket has been meteoric. Playing in the Tamil Nadu Premier League 2018, he captured the attention of the state selectors with his phenomenal discipline and control in bowling. In the victorious campaign, he recorded an unbelievable economy rate of 4.7 from 10 T20 matches.

He was soon drafted into Tamil Nadu’s Limited-overs team and Chakaravarthy snapped 22 wickets from just nine matches, picking at least one wicket in each game.

The little-known twirler will definitely be on the radar of the IPL scouts. Chakravarthy may not fit into the schemes of a few IPL franchises like Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab as they already have mystery spinners in their ranks but here are three IPL teams who should definitely bid for him.

#3 Chennai Super Kings

Chennai Super Kings

If any IPL team rightfully deserves to have Chakravarthy in their lineup then it has to be the IPL 2018 Champions Chennai Super Kings. The 27-year-old is a product of the TNPL, and it will be only fair that a franchise that represents Tamil Nadu should benefit from it. Also, considering the fact that this will be Varun’s home state, the pitch and condition acclimatization will not be an issue.

Chennai Super Kings do possess Harbhajan Singh, Karn Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja as spin options and all three have proven their worth in T20 cricket over the years. Still, the novelty factor that Varun offers is a surprise weapon that can be used effectively.

Another aspect which can be immensely helpful for both CSK and Chakravarthy is having MS Dhoni at the helm. The Captain is an astute reader of the game and is a master at extracting the best from his players. MSD in a combination with a mystery spinner will be a treat for cricket lovers.

#2 Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians had a stop-start campaign in IPL 2018. Despite retaining the successful core of the team, they found themselves languishing near the bottom as they lost five of their first six games. Rohit Sharma and co. did bounce back but it was not enough to take them into the playoffs and the team ended at the fifth spot.

Heading into IPL 2019, they have six spots available for Indian players and one of them can be used to acquire Varun Chakravarthy.

The spinner who reaped success for Mumbai Indians in 2018 was the 21-year-old Mayank Markande. Other than him, the only other genuine spinner the franchise possesses is Rahul Chahar. They have already released Akila Dananjaya, and Chakravarthy can fill the vacancy and unleash his magic on the Wankhede pitch.

Mumbai Indians do have Krunal Pandya playing as the other spinner but Chakravarthy's inclusion will make them a force to reckon with on turning tracks. The bowler relies on his subtle variations and will be highly effective on Indian pitches. This purchase can be a masterstroke for a team like Mumbai Indians.

#1 Rajasthan Royals

Rajasthan Royals

Late into the 2018 IPL auction, Rajasthan Royals realized that they did not have a top-quality spinner. They had to place a frantic bid for Krishnappa Gowtham and bought him for an exorbitant price of INR 6.2 crores. Apart from him, RR have Shreyas Gopal and Ish Sodhi in their ranks. None of the three is a significant threat and lack the venom required to run through the opponent’s batting lineup.

Varun Chakravarthy can be the weapon that can spearhead the bowling arsenal of Rajasthan Royals. He can be the key player for the franchise whenever they encounter a turning track and will be effective in curtailing the run-flow. The spinner can transform the way Rajasthan Royals approach an opposition on turning pitches.

Additionally, over the years, Rajasthan Royals have developed their image as a team that likes to groom the lesser-known talents. They consistently back the underdogs to punch above their weight and a player like Varun Chakravarthy fits perfectly in that definition.