Varun Chakravarthy Fined 25% Match Fee For KKR vs CSK in IPL 2025

When Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) spinner Varun Chakravarthy violated the IPL Code of Conduct during Match 57 of the 2025 IPL versus Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Eden Gardens on May 7, 2025, he was fined 25% of his match money and given one demerit point. The IPL confirmed the fine, citing a Level 1 offence under Article 2.5 of the Code, which covers words, gestures, or acts aimed at a dismissed batter that have the potential to incite an aggressive response.

Varun Chakaravarthy accepted the Match Referee's sentence after acknowledging committing the Level 1 offence under Article 2.5. Article 2.5 of the IPL Code of Conduct states that "abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during a match" is a Level 1 offence. Actions like striking or kicking the wickets or damaging other fixtures and fittings fall under this category. Chakravarthy's activities were judged to fit under this category in this instance. When Level 1 violations of the Code of Conduct occur, the match referee's ruling is definitive and enforceable. Chakravarthy's punishment illustrates how seriously the IPL takes such infractions to uphold the game's discipline and integrity. 

Varun Chakravarthy in trouble:

🚨📰| Varun Chakaravarthy has been fined 25% of his match fees and given one demerit point by BCCI for this send-off to Dewald Brevis. pic.twitter.com/uA5KvwvatV

— KnightRidersXtra (@KKR_Xtra) May 8, 2025

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sunil Narine, and Ajinkya Rahane all got off to fast starts, helping KKR, who had decided to bat first in the match, make the most of the powerplay and reach 67/1 in six overs. Andre Russell's late flourish helped KKR record 179, despite the middle overs' slow run-scoring pace caused by the CSK spinners.

CSK lost five wickets in the PowerPlay, including debutant Urvil Patel, who had put on 31 off just 11 balls, as their pursuit got off to a bad start. With the bat, though, Brevis was the standout player. Brevis hit Vaibhav Arora for 30 runs in the eleventh over. KKR had a victory probability of more than 78% prior to that. It was CSK who took the initiative after that. 

With 11 points from 12 games, KKR is now ranked sixth in the standings. To remain in the running for a top-four finish, they need to win their final two games against SRH and RCB and hope for favourable outcomes.

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