Varun Chakravarthy has become one of the most valuable bowlers right now. The Kolkata Knight Riders spinner earned a massive salary jump for the 2025 season, which was followed up in 2026 as well. His price jumped to ₹12 crores which is 50% more than before.
This makes him one of the highest-paid cricketers in the entire league currently. KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane earns only ₹1.5 crores in comparison here. That means Varun Chakravarthy makes 700% more money than his own skipper.
His brilliant performances totally justified this huge salary increase from the franchise management. KKR knows how valuable quality spinners are in modern T20 cricket formats. They refused to let Varun Chakravarthy leave their squad at any cost really.
Journey from 2019 to 2026
Varun Chakravarthy started his tournament journey with the IPL Team Punjab Kings back in 2019. His IPL price that year was ₹8.4 crores but he played just 1 match. The side didn’t give him enough chances to prove his bowling skills properly.
Things changed completely when he joined the new IPL Team, Kolkata Knight Riders, in 2020 as their spinner. His IPL price dropped to ₹4 crores initially with the new franchise switch. But he grabbed this opportunity with both hands and never looked back again.
- 2019: ₹8.4 crores (1 match PBKS)
- 2020: ₹4 crores (KKR)
- 2021: ₹8 crores (18 wickets)
- 2022: ₹8 crores (retained)
- 2023: ₹8 crores (20 wickets)
- 2024: ₹8 crores (21 wickets)
- 2025: ₹12 crores (17 wickets)
His career earnings across all seasons now total ₹52.4 crores so far. That’s an incredible amount for someone who struggled to get game time initially. The 2026 contract proves his value keeps rising every single year consistently.
Why His Salary Keeps Growing
Varun Chakravarthy grabbed 18 wickets in 2021 which earned him better contracts ahead. The team retained him and increased his IPL price to ₹8 crores then. He kept performing brilliantly season after season without any major dips in form.
The league usually favours batters who smash boundaries and score big runs quickly. But Varun proved that quality bowlers deserve equally big salaries too nowadays. His leg-spin bowling style troubles even the best batsmen around the world currently.
IPL Records & Stats
He has established himself as one of the most dependable mystery spinners in the Indian Premier League. Playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), he has become a key figure in their bowling attack, known for his sharp variations, tight lines, and ability to deliver breakthroughs in pressure moments.
Varun’s rise in the IPL is a perfect example of how skill and consistency can transform a domestic performer into a league match-winner. His performances since 2020 have been particularly impactful, with standout seasons where he regularly finished as one of KKR’s top wicket-takers.
His clever mix of leg-breaks, googlies, and carrom balls often leave batters guessing, making him a difficult bowler to attack.
One of his career highlights includes a five-wicket haul, which remains a memorable moment for KKR fans. He has also maintained an impressive economy rate throughout his IPL journey, proving how effective he can be in controlling the flow of runs, especially during the middle overs.
IPL Stats
| Category | Record / Stats |
|---|---|
| Team | Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) |
| Matches Played | 60+ |
| Wickets | 70+ |
| Best Bowling Figures | 5/20 |
| Economy Rate | Around 7.0 – 7.8 |
| Bowling Average | ~25 |
| Strike Rate | ~20 balls per wicket |
| Debut Season | IPL 2019 |
| Role | Mystery Spinner |
