IPL 2026: India's star spinner Varun Chakravarthy has revealed the intense backlash and abuse he faced after testing positive for COVID-19 during IPL 2021, an event that triggered widespread controversy and led to the suspension of the tournament after just 29 matches as the virus entered the bio-bubble.

Chakravarthy was not alone at the time, as his fellow KKR fast bowler Sandeep Warrier also tested positive within the team.

In a video on his YouTube channel, Chakravarthy reflected on this difficult period and described the emotional toll of fans blaming him for the postponed season.

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"The worst was when IPL stopped in 2021. It stopped halfway because I got COVID. I was the first person to test positive, so the whole IPL stopped," Chakravarthy recounted on his YouTube channel.

This backlash intensified after reports surfaced that Chakravarthy had left his bio-bubble with official permission to undergo scans for a shoulder injury, which led to speculation about how he contracted the virus.

Consequently, the negative attention on social media took a significant toll on Chakravarthy.

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"People were abusing me. Back then, IPL was the only way people passed the time. They were so angry that it stopped. People were saying, 'Why don't you just die?' It was that bad," Chakravarthy recalled.

Despite the setbacks, Chakravarthy made a significant comeback for KKR. In IPL 2025, he became the second-highest wicket-taker with 17 wickets at an average of 22.52, an economy rate of 7.66, and best figures of 3/22. Across 83 matches for KKR, he has claimed 99 wickets at an average of 23.74, including two four-wicket hauls and a best of 5/20.

Building on his strong league performances, Chakravarthy also played a key role in India's T20 World Cup win this year, finishing as the joint-highest wicket-taker with Jasprit Bumrah, both taking 14 wickets. However, Chakravarthy's economy rate was 9.25.