IPL auction: KKR’s mystery pick Daksh Kamra mirrors Varun Chakravarthy, impresses Abhishek Nayar

Ahmedabad: In Varun Chakravarthy, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have the world’s best T20I bowler and a proven performer in the Indian Premier League (IPL). With 100 wickets in 84 IPL matches, Chakravarthy has been a vital cog for KKR in recent years. He has left batters rooted to the spot with his variations and unique bowling action. In the recently concluded IPL mini-auction in Abu Dhabi, KKR snapped up another bowler in a similar ilk by signing Hisar-based mystery spinner Daksh Kamra for Rs 30 lakh.

The 22-year-old all-rounder’s bowling action is strikingly similar to the Tamil Nadu spinner, whom he closely follows.



“Daksh bowls in the same zones as Varun and has the same pattern,” said Kamra’s coach Sandeep Kharb in an exclusive interaction with TimesofIndia.com.

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While the right-arm leg-spinner stands out with his mystery spin, Kamra is also capable of smashing the ball big, making him exceedingly valuable.

Kamra’s association with the game began 11 years ago, initially as a bowling all-rounder. He has four variations in his arsenal, including the carrom ball, googly and slider. Playing tennis-ball cricket helped the 22-year-old spinner gain greater command over his bowling due to the enhanced scope for experimentation. Kamra also worked on a structured bowling routine with Kharb to develop speed and effectiveness.

‘Googly invariably hits stumps or pads on most occasions’

“There were a lot of technical aspects we worked on with constant monitoring. Daksh has only one mindset — he wants complete clarity over where every ball is being delivered. The speed of the googly is so high that it hits the pad or the stumps on most occasions. The speed of an average googly is 95–97 km/h,” shared Kharb.

Kamra steadily developed his big-hitting abilities as well, working extensively on power-hitting. One of the biggest reasons behind his success with the willow is the high speed of his hands, enabling the all-rounder to smash sixes with ease. The 22-year-old cricketer also focuses extensively on fitness, working hard on strength training.

‘Impressing Kumar Sangakkara, Abhishek Nayar’

The all-rounder made his debut for Haryana’s under-23 team last season, picking up four wickets in a limited-overs match. Kamra also recorded five dismissals in a CK Nayudu Trophy match, marking his only two appearances in the previous campaign. The Haryana all-rounder has picked up seven wickets in four under-23 games this season. Interestingly, Kamra was dropped from the state team at one point, which is when Kharb stepped in, convincing a Haryana Cricket Association (HCA) official of his talent. The decision proved transformational, putting him on KKR’s radar.

“I said, ‘He is a solid player. Give him a chance.’ They fortunately provided him another opportunity, where he excelled. KKR and RR scouts soon noted his bowling and invited him for trials. Vikram Rathour and Kumar Sangakkara praised him a lot,” said Kharb.


“Abhishek Nayar asked him to bowl certain deliveries. Daksh started with two leg-spin deliveries, getting a wicket off the second ball. Nayar then asked him to bowl a googly, which hit the pad, leaving him impressed,” he added.

Kamra trains for four hours daily, devoting equal time to batting and bowling. He is also a strong believer in manifestation, which has been a major factor behind the all-rounder’s success. “The goal will be to give my 110% for KKR,” stated the mystery spinner.