Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has urged Kolkata Knight Riders to back out-of-form Varun Chakravarthy for the match against Lucknow Super Giants on Thursday. Chakravarthy hasn’t been at his best in the recent past and he was not included in the team’s playing XI against Punjab Kings as he suffered a finger injury.

The mystery spinner has a fantastic record against LSG captain Rishabh Pant as the former has dismissed the latter on three occasions in six innings. Pant has a strike rate of almost 100 against Charkavarthy as he has scored 30 runs off 31 deliveries.

Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube Channel, “Varun Chakaravarthy got injured. Even if he has injured the little finger of his left hand, he bowls with his right hand. So you should back him and give him that confidence.”

“Rishabh Pant has a strike rate of around 100 against Varun Chakaravarthy. But that is an old story, and Rishabh Pant just won the last match for his team with an unbeaten knock. His confidence will be very high, but he has gotten out to Varun Chakaravarthy thrice in six innings and scored 31 runs off 30 balls. This is an opportunity for Kolkata to back Varun,” he noted.

Pathan said KKR should consider promoting in-form Angkrish Raghuvanshi to the number three position as Cameron Green hasn’t been at his best.

He added, “Angkrish Raghuvanshi should bat at No. 3 and bring Cameron Green down to No. 4. Angkrish has scored runs in both innings. So, you should back the current form. It is understandable that you want to play Cameron Green, but you must back Angkrish Raghuvanshi.”

KKR will take on LSG at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Thursday.