Varun bags bumper IPL deal again

After losing a bidding war with Kings XI Punjab in the IPL 2019 auction, KKR managed to land the Tamil Nadu spinner this time around, keeping a keen Royal Challengers Bangalore at bay. “I didn’t expect to go for such a big amount (having missed a lot of cricket in the last few months),” Varun, who was the joint-costliest player in the previous auction at Rs 8.4 cr, told DT Next.

“I watched the proceedings in my home town Thanjavur. I thought some franchise would pick me up for the base price (Rs 30 lakh),” added a reticent Varun, who came into the limelight with his striking performances in the Tamil Nadu Premier League 2018. The 28-year-old’s campaign in IPL 2019 had been cut short courtesy a fracture on his finger during KXIP’s visit to Chennai for a league game.

Varun made only one appearance, against his new employer Knight Riders in Kolkata. Even in that, the mystery slow bowler did not have the best of outings as he was undone by a rampant Sunil Narine in the powerplay overs. Back into action after a frustrating period off the pitch, the million dollar baby wished for more game time in IPL 2020.

“I am now playing local/club cricket. I am not far away from reaching my best. I hope to feature in all matches in the upcoming season.” Varun will reunite with Tamil Nadu limited overs skipper Dinesh Karthik, who on Thursday was confirmed as captain of KKR for the next edition by head coach Brendon McCullum.

“It’s good that I will be playing under my state side’s skipper at Knight Riders. I would like to thank Karthik and Abhishek Nayar for giving me this opportunity.”

Three other players who made their mark in TNPL also interested the franchises. Left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore will finally have a taste of IPL as he was snapped up by Chennai Super Kings in the accelerated process for his base salary cap of Rs 20 lakh. The 23-year-old had gone unsold in the first phase of the auction.

Fellow slow bowler M Siddharth will turn out for KKR after he was purchased for Rs 20 lakh. “We had just got back to the hotel after the Ranji Trophy game between Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh. So, I didn’t actually watch the auction. I am happy and I can’t express my feelings in words,” an elated Siddharth told this newspaper. Sunrisers Hyderabad later got all-rounder Sanjay Yadav for Rs 20 lakh.