Although defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders have brought quite a few massive changes to their title winning squad, which includes the change of captain and coaching squad, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy believes that they can pull of another title winning performance this season.

"We will look to defend [the title] and we have a great squad and great batsmen too," Varun said on the eve of the tournament opener in Kolkata. "We have added Quinton de Kock, Anrich Nortje, Spencer Johnson, Moeen Ali and Roman Powell and we have a great international core this time.

"If you saw last year, we had huge victories and huge losses also in certain matches. Every match is different in the IPL. As experts say, you have to take it as a new tournament and start from scratch."

Varun, the second-highest wicket-taker in IPL 2024, admitted that getting Virat Kohli out in the tournament opener would be especially satisfying. So far, he has managed to keep Kohli in check, conceding just 40 runs off 39 balls across seven innings, though he has dismissed him only once. To improve on that record, Varun has put in some extra homework—not just for Kohli, but for other key batters as well.

"I've done just the same preparation I did last year," Varun said. "Definitely excited to be coming up against Virat bhai. Obviously, he has batted well against me and I would want to do well against him.

"Anyone at this level, you cannot think of it as an easy opposition. Every team in the IPL is as good as the other one. RCB have a quality team, but we have done our homework. I have done my homework too."

"Whenever I play some domestic, I try to work something new. Every year I try to bowl something new," Varun said. "Last year it worked out, in seasons before that it didn't. Obviously, I have a few balls up my sleeve but it will depend on other factors also.

"Whenever my captain wants me to bowl, I am ready for it. I have bowled in the powerplay, middle and death also. We have a new captain this time and he has spoken to me about where I can be most effective. I have also conveyed that to him."

Varun is excited to rekindle his bowling partnership with Sunil Narine. The duo took a combined total of 38 wickets last season and were both retained before the auction.

"I don't have to compliment him," Varun said. "He is a legend of the game. One of the greats of the game. He was the MVP last year also.

"We've had a little conversation this year and he looks very well prepared. He looks ready to take on the IPL just like how he did last year. I'm very excited to see him go this year also. Whatever he does, I just look at that and I try to imbibe whatever he does here."