India spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has been ruled out of the ongoing T20I series against Afghanistan after suffering a fresh side strain. The injury has also put his participation in the upcoming Asian Games under serious doubt.
Chakaravarthy had only recently returned from a hamstring injury sustained during India’s tour of England in July. He featured in the opening T20I against Afghanistan and made an economical contribution, taking one wicket while conceding just 16 runs from his four overs.
However, the spinner will now miss the remainder of the Afghanistan series after an MRI scan confirmed the new injury. A BCCI source described it as a fresh injury and said that Chakaravarthy looks unlikely to feature in the Asian Games.
Varun Chakaravarthy Injury: What Happened?
Chakaravarthy’s latest setback comes shortly after his recovery from a hamstring problem. His return had been encouraging, particularly after he delivered a controlled spell in India’s series-opening win over Afghanistan.
The new side strain, however, means he will now be unavailable for the remaining matches of the series.
Key Point 1: Chakaravarthy Out of Afghanistan Series
The MRI scan revealed that Chakaravarthy has suffered a side strain, according to a BCCI source. The injury rules him out of the remaining T20I matches against Afghanistan.
His absence is another setback for India’s preparations, especially because he had just returned from his previous hamstring injury.
Chakaravarthy’s figures in the first T20I were:
- Overs: 4
- Runs conceded: 16
- Wickets: 1
India had won the series opener comfortably, but Chakaravarthy will not be available for the next two matches. The second and third T20Is against Afghanistan are scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday.
Varun Chakaravarthy Asian Games Chances in Doubt
The timing of the injury is particularly unfortunate because the Asian Games are approaching. India’s Asian Games campaign is scheduled to begin later this month, and Chakaravarthy’s latest injury has now made his availability highly uncertain.
The setback also comes amid wider concerns surrounding injury management at the Centre of Excellence, with several players recently dealing with fitness issues.
Asian Games Squad Faces Fitness Concerns
Chakaravarthy is not the only Indian player whose fitness has been affected in the build-up to the upcoming assignments.
India pacer Harshit Rana was unable to recover in time for the Afghanistan series and the Asian Games despite being included in the original squad subject to fitness. Yash Thakur was subsequently named as his replacement.
Several other prominent players, including Jasprit Bumrah, Nitish Reddy and Washington Sundar, have also recently returned from injuries.
India’s schedule around the Asian Games includes a historic T20 match against Japan on September 22, followed by the Asian Games assignment in Nisshin, Japan, beginning on September 28.
With Chakaravarthy now dealing with a fresh side strain, his availability for the tournament will depend on his recovery and fitness assessment.
Why Varun Chakaravarthy’s Absence Matters
Chakaravarthy had just returned to the playing XI and had already shown good control in the opening match against Afghanistan.
His latest injury therefore comes at an awkward time for both the player and the Indian team. The immediate concern will be his recovery, while the bigger question is whether he can regain fitness in time for the Asian Games. For now, the clear update is that Chakaravarthy is out of the Afghanistan T20I series and doubtful for the Asian Games.
Final Word
The Varun Chakaravarthy injury is another fitness concern for India ahead of a busy period. The spinner’s side strain, confirmed by MRI, has ruled him out of the remaining Afghanistan T20Is and put his Asian Games participation in doubt.
After recently returning from a hamstring injury, Chakaravarthy will now have to focus on recovering from this fresh setback. India, meanwhile, will have to manage another change to its plans as the team prepares for its upcoming international and Asian Games commitments.
