Nothing seems to be going Kolkata Knight Riders’ way this season. Even as the team management has come under scrutiny for some puzzling selection calls, the three-time Indian Premier League champion has struggled to find rhythm in almost every department.

The batting has lacked consistency, the bowling has often been erratic and below par, and Varun Chakaravarthy’s worrying dip in form has only compounded the problems. Once considered KKR’s trump card, the mystery spinner has looked a shadow of himself in the two games he has played so far, appearing out of rhythm and short on control.

He was subsequently left out of the clash against Punjab Kings with an injury, though the team management has not clarified the exact nature of the setback or a possible timeline for his return.

In a way, the enforced break could offer Varun an opportunity to reset after a difficult run. But it also raises a larger question: what has gone wrong for the spinner who, over the past few seasons, established himself as one of KKR’s most reliable match-winners?

“Varun is going through off-form, and the problem is that the batters are now being able to pick Varun as they know which delivery he would bowl. That’s a matter of concern,” former India captain Sourav Ganguly said.

Signs of this dip have been evident since the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup, with opposition teams increasingly attacking him during key phases of the innings. In two IPL appearances so far, Varun has bowled just six overs, conceding 79 runs without picking up a wicket.

Against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Eden Gardens, the leg-spinner was unable to complete his quota of four overs after conceding 25 runs in his very first over, immediately putting the pressure on the rest of the attack.