Varun Chakaravarthy ruled out of Asian Games 2026, Vipraj Nigam to come as replacement

An unexpected roster shake-up has hit India's upcoming Asian Games 2026 campaign, as their ace spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury.

Varun Chakaravarthy to miss Asian Games too

Meanwhile, leg-spin all-rounder Vipraj Nigam is likely to replace Varun Chakravarthy in India's Asian Games squad. The marquee continental tournament is set to kick off in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan on September 19. Chakravarthy’s exclusion comes after he suffered a side strain during the opening fixture of the ongoing T20I series against Afghanistan. The injury has sidelined him for an extended period, ruling him out of further action for the immediate future.

ALSO READ: IPL auction to return India? Big update for 2027 after three overseas editions

While selectors considered Kuldeep Yadav alongside Nigam to fill up the void. But Kuldeep was ultimately held back to feature in the upcoming ODI series against the West Indies, which is slated to kick off from September 27. As a result, the talented young all-rounder Nigam emerges as the strongest contender to represent the country on the big stage.

Vipraj Nigam in line to replace Varun in India's Asian Games squad

Nigam, who plays for Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League, brings dynamic utility to the squad, having picked up 13 wickets across 19 IPL appearances. Beyond his bowling, the 21-year-old boasts explosive late-order power, striking at an impressive rate near 176 in the tournament. He steps into a lineup preparing for the Asian Games men's cricket event launching September 24, where India enters directly into the quarterfinal round.

ALSO READ: Asian Games: Indian athletes guided on Japanese etiquette; what not to do?

The shift comes as a major blow to Chakravarthy, who had only recently fought his way back into the national team following a long battle with a hamstring injury. After feeling fresh discomfort during the initial T20I, the 35-year-old spinner was dispatched to the BCCI Centre of Excellence for medical evaluation, cutting his comeback brief.

India's Asian Games squad has already faced multiple roster adjustments this month due to fitness setbacks during preparation. Prior to Chakaravarthy's ouster, fast bowler Yash Thakur was drafted into the team to replace Harshit Rana, who was sidelined after sustaining a rectus femoris muscle injury while undergoing a match simulation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.