Injury Sidelines Varun Chakravarthy
India Spinner Varun Chakravarthy Ruled Out of Remaining T20Is Against Afghanistan
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The BCCI said Chakravarthy experienced “sudden-onset discomfort” in his left lateral abdominal region while bowling his third over of the opening match.
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Chakravarthy, 35, said before the latest setback that it was his first muscle injury, noting that his previous injuries had resulted from impacts or on-field accidents.
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He had spent nearly two months rehabilitating at the BCCI Centre of Excellence before returning to competitive cricket, then suffered another injury after bowling only four overs in his comeback match.
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In the opening match, Chakravarthy dismissed Afghanistan batter Darwish Rasooli in his first over, with his spell also featuring changes of pace, movement and accuracy that troubled the batters.
India spinner Varun Chakravarthy has been ruled out of the remaining two T20Is against Afghanistan after an MRI scan revealed a fresh left-side strain. News18 reported that Chakravarthy experienced sudden-onset discomfort in his left lateral abdominal region while bowling his third over in the series opener on September 13. The 35-year-old took 1 for 16 in four overs during India's seven-wicket victory before the injury struck.
The setback is particularly troubling because Chakravarthy had just returned from nearly two months of rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence following a hamstring injury sustained in England. NDTV confirmed that his participation in the Asian Games beginning September 19 is now highly doubtful. Ravi Bishnoi replaced him in the playing XI for the second T20I in New Delhi, marking yet another forced line-up change due to injury.
A Sudden Breakdown Just Days After Clearance
Chakravarthy's injury occurred just 24 hours after he was cleared by the BCCI's medical team to play competitive cricket. The spinner bowled his first over cleanly, dismissing Afghanistan batter Darwish Rasooli while showing sharp pace changes and movement. But when he returned for his third over, discomfort struck his left side. HindustanTimes noted that he completed his four-over spell before scans revealed the damage.
Speaking before the scan results, Chakravarthy acknowledged the risks of intense physical effort. He stated: "This is actually my first muscle injury. All my earlier injuries have been impact injuries and other incidents that happened during matches." His comment suggests the new injury caught even the player by surprise, raising questions about whether his four-over comeback workload was appropriate.
Pattern of Premature Returns Sparks Rehabilitation Questions
Chakravarthy's collapse mirrors a broader pattern at India's national facility. CricketAddictor reported that pacer Harshit Rana suffered a rectus femoris strain during match-simulation drills at the BCCI Centre of Excellence while rehabbing his own hamstring injury. Like Chakravarthy, Rana was cleared to return and then broke down again, forcing him out of both the Afghanistan series and the Asian Games.
According to ANI, the BCCI stated that Chakravarthy experienced "sudden-onset discomfort" while bowling. However, media outlets have raised hard questions: Why are players cleared if they remain vulnerable to muscle strains just hours after returning? Are fitness protocols at the centre genuinely matching match demands, or are players being rushed back too soon to meet squad needs?
Asian Games Participation Now in Serious Doubt
Chakravarthy was set to be a cornerstone of India's spin attack for the Asian Games, which begin September 19 in Japan. India has a T20I against Japan scheduled for September 22 and will enter quarterfinal play on September 28. His absence would force major strategic shifts for the tournament.
The recurrence of injury so soon after his hamstring recovery has renewed scrutiny of the BCCI Centre of Excellence's entire injury-management framework. If Chakravarthy misses the Asian Games, it will mark the second major India spinner sidelined in just days — adding pressure on Ravi Bishnoi and spin all-rounders Axar Patel and Washington Sundar to carry the load.
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