New Delhi, September 15, 2026: Indian spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has been ruled out of the remainder of the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan after suffering a side strain.
The 35-year-old mystery spinner picked up the injury following the first T20I, which India won by seven wickets at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on September 13. In that match, Chakaravarthy bowled a tight spell of 4 overs, conceding just 16 runs and taking one wicket.
According to BCCI sources, it is a fresh injury. He will miss the second T20I scheduled for September 15 and the third match on September 17.
Injury History and Impact
Chakaravarthy had only recently returned to the national side after recovering from a Grade 2 hamstring injury sustained during the T20I series against England in July. He had undergone rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
This latest setback continues a challenging year for the Tamil Nadu spinner, who also dealt with a foot injury during IPL 2026.
His absence creates a gap in India’s spin attack. The team currently has options such as Ravi Bishnoi and Washington Sundar available in the squad to fill the role.
Asian Games Availability
The injury has also cast doubt over Chakaravarthy’s participation in the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, which begin later this month. While some reports suggest he may still travel with the squad, official confirmation on his fitness for the multi-sport event is awaited.
India hold a 1-0 lead in the series after their dominant performance in the opener, led by strong contributions from the batting and bowling units.
Team management and medical staff will continue to monitor Chakaravarthy’s recovery closely.