India spinner Varun Chakaravarthy will miss the ongoing three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in New Delhi due to an injury. His condition raises concerns about his availability for the upcoming Asian Games 2026, scheduled to take place in Japan.
The 35-year-old Chakaravarthy, who made his comeback after a two-month recovery and rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, complained of a side strain after the 1st T20I against Afghanistan on Sunday night and the team management decided to release him without further delay. Varun, who bowled a tidy 1/16 in the first T20I, will fly to Bengaluru to meet the CoE medical team after which a call will be taken on his Asian Games participation, according to a Cricbuzz report. The Indian cricket team is scheduled to play a bilateral game against the hosts on September 22 before featuring in the Asian Games. The team will leave New Delhi for Japan on September 18, while their Asian Games campaign begins on September 28. India, the defending champions, already have Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi and Washington Sundar in the 15-man squad, but they will still look for Chakaravarthy’s replacement if he cannot travel. A recent 10-wicket haul for Yorkshire in the County Championship (4/70 and 6/50) showed he can still produce match-winning spells when given a long run.
His left-arm unorthodox deliveries provide an awkward trajectory and deceptive drift that trouble Asian and associate opponents unfamiliar with elite wrist spin. If the team management wants a proven match-winner who guarantees breakthroughs regardless of pitch conditions, Kuldeep is the outright frontrunner.
