Indian spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has been ruled out of the remaining Twenty20 International matches against Afghanistan following a side strain. The 35-year-old bowler, who had recently returned to action after a two-month rehabilitation stint at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, sustained the injury during Sunday night’s contest at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Team management has opted to release him immediately to focus on his recovery.
Chakaravarthy is scheduled to travel to Bengaluru within the next 48 hours to undergo medical assessment and scans under the supervision of the CoE staff. These results will determine his availability for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan. The timeline remains a concern, as the Indian contingent is set to depart for the tournament from New Delhi on September 18, with their opening match slated for September 28. The team is also scheduled to play a bilateral fixture against the hosts in Japan on September 22.
During his appearance on Sunday, Chakaravarthy delivered his full quota of four overs and claimed one wicket for 16 runs. Despite bowling two no-balls, he appeared to be operating at a high level. Following the match, he addressed the physical demands of international cricket, noting that injuries are often a byproduct of athletes pushing their limits. He previously missed series in England and Zimbabwe earlier this year due to a hamstring injury, which kept him sidelined for several weeks before his recent return to the national squad.
Reflecting on the challenges of maintaining fitness, Chakaravarthy remarked after the match that injuries are an inherent part of a sportsperson’s journey. He stated that while the body sometimes gives in due to extreme physical demand, the necessity is to reassess, work on physical conditioning, and aim to return stronger. His participation in the Japan tour now depends entirely on the upcoming medical evaluation in Bengaluru. According to information available with this website, Chakaravarthy (35) complained of a side strain after Sunday night’s game, and the team management has decided to release him without any further delay. The report also notes that after which a call will be taken on his Asian Games participation, he will fly to Bengaluru to meet the CoE medical team over the next 24-48 hours.
