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India’s T20 World Cup-winning spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has revealed the intense social media abuse he faced, including death threats, after testing positive for Covid-19 during the suspended 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL).

IPL 2021 halted amid Covid outbreak

In early May 2021, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was forced to suspend the IPL midway after multiple Covid-19 cases emerged within team bio-bubbles. At the time, 29 matches had been completed.

The 30th match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru was postponed after two KKR players — Varun Chakaravarthy and Sandeep Warrier — tested positive.

Reports then suggested that Varun may have been exposed to the virus after stepping out of the biosecure bubble for medical scans to a shoulder injury.

“People told me to die”

Speaking about the incident, Varun described the severe backlash he received online. He said many fans blamed him for the suspension of the tournament, which was a major source of entertainment during pandemic lockdowns.

“The worst was when IPL was stopped in 2021. People were abusing me… they were saying, ‘Why don’t you just die,’” he recalled, highlighting the extent of hostility he faced.

Outbreak spread across teams

The situation quickly escalated, with multiple cases reported across franchises. Members of the Chennai Super Kings camp, including bowling coach Lakshmipathy Balaji and CEO Kasi Viswanathan, also tested positive, while other teams were placed under quarantine.

With rising concerns, the BCCI suspended the tournament indefinitely. The remaining matches were later rescheduled and held in the United Arab Emirates between September and October 2021.

A reminder of online toxicity

Varun’s experience sheds light on the darker side of social media, where athletes often face extreme criticism and abuse. His revelations underline the need for responsible online behaviour and greater awareness about the mental health impact of such harassment.

From backlash to triumph

Despite the difficult phase, Varun has since bounced back, playing a key role in India’s T20 World Cup-winning campaign, marking a remarkable turnaround in his career.