In a big setback to India, their star spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has been ruled out of the remainder of T20I series against Afghanistan due side strain. The 35-year-old spinner turned up for India's post-match press conference following India's seven-wicket win against Afghanistan in the series opener on September 13. But shortly it was understood that he won't be able to participate in the second and third match of the T20I series against Afghans, which is scheduled to be played on September 15 and September 17.
Varun Chakaravarthy's side strain rules him out of Afghanistan T20Is
Injury setbacks have repeatedly halted Varun Chakravarthy's progress throughout 2026. His season began on a frustrating note with a fractured toe during the IPL 2026, followed shortly by a hamstring injury that sidelined him mid-series during the T20Is in England, throwing his form into disarray.
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Varun Chakaravarthy's injury history
After undergoing rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence, Chakravarthy successfully proved his fitness to earn a call-up for the T20I series against Afghanistan. He made an immediate impact upon returning, delivering a tight four-over spell in the series opener to finish with figures of 1/16.
However, his comeback was brief. Bad luck struck once again as a fresh injury issue forced Chakravarthy out of the final two matches of the Afghanistan T20Is, putting his return on hold once more.
The latest injury woe places his participation in the upcoming Asian Games in serious jeopardy. India's schedule features a landmark T20I fixture against Japan on September 22, leading directly into their main campaign at the Games in Nisshin, Japan, beginning September 28.
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Chakravarthy is far from the only fitness concern facing the national setup. Fast bowler Harshit Rana, who was initially selected for both the Afghanistan series and the Asian Games contingent pending medical clearance, ultimately failed to recover in time and was replaced by Yash Thakur. Meanwhile, several other key players, including premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah alongside all-rounders Nitish Reddy and Washington Sundar—have only recently managed to complete their own rehab programs and return to action.