Amidst the high-scoring extravaganza of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) spinner Varun Chakravarthy has proposed a novel suggestion to alleviate the workload of cheerleaders. With boundaries becoming increasingly common in IPL 2024, cheerleaders have been facing an overwhelming demand for their services.
Chakravarthy’s tongue-in-cheek remark came after KKR’s victory over Delhi Capitals, where the boundary count reached unprecedented levels. “Unfortunately, that has become the trend, and maybe they should dance only for the sixes and not for fours,” he quipped after receiving the ‘Man of the Match’ award.
Chakravarthy’s suggestion stems from the sheer volume of boundaries being hit this season. With scores of 250+ becoming commonplace, the number of boundaries has skyrocketed, leading to an overload of work for cheerleaders.
Despite the lighthearted nature of his comment, Chakravarthy’s observation highlights the changing dynamics of the IPL. The emphasis on boundary hitting has shifted the focus away from traditional cricket skills, resulting in a proliferation of boundaries and a corresponding increase in the workload for cheerleaders.
Chakravarthy’s performance against Delhi Capitals was a testament to his adaptability to the new demands of the IPL. He registered impressive figures of 3/16 in his four overs, restricting DC to a manageable total of 153/9.
In the chase, Phil Salt led the charge for KKR with a blistering 68 off just 33 deliveries. Shreyas Iyer and Venkatesh Iyer then guided the team to victory, completing the chase in 16.3 overs.
Reflecting on his performance, Chakravarthy acknowledged the challenges he faced in the previous match against Punjab Kings, who pulled off a record IPL chase of 263. “It was nice to get some wickets after a difficult outing last time,” he said.
Chakravarthy also praised the support he received from his teammates and coaching staff after his disappointing performance in the previous match. “Everyone, including Abhishek Nayar and Shahrukh Khan, spoke to me, and that was nice,” he added.
