India suffered another injury setback as spinner Varun Chakaravarthy was ruled out of the rest of the T20I series against Afghanistan because of an injury. India got news on Monday, 14 September 2026, the day after India defeated Afghanistan by 7 wickets in New Delhi in the opening match.
Varun Suffers Fresh Side Strain
According to a BCCI source cited by PTI, Chakaravarthy suffered a side strain in the MRI scan. The injury has forced him to miss the second and third T20Is against Afghanistan.
The spinner had only recently returned to international cricket after recovering from a hamstring injury suffered during India’s England tour in July. So this setback comes at a bad time for him as the Indian team is also preparing for the Asian Games.
The exact circumstances in which he suffered the fresh injury were initially unclear. But it was revealed that the problem had emerged after the first T20I against Afghanistan.
Impressive Comeback in First T20I
Chakaravarthy made an immediate impact on his return to the Indian side. In the first T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on September 13 he finished his four-over spell and had excellent figures of 1/16.
India beat Afghanistan by seven wickets in the series opener. Chakaravarthy's economical spell was an important part of India's bowling effort as the hosts began the three-match series with a victory.
His absence means India will now have to adapt its bowling for the remaining matches.
Ravi Bishnoi Among Spin Options
With Chakaravarthy out of the team, India still have some spin options in the squad. Ravi Bishnoi, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar are some of the alternatives the team management has.
The second T20I is scheduled for September 15, while the third and final match will be played on September 17, both games taking place in Delhi.
Asian Games Participation Also in Doubt
The injury could have consequences beyond the Afghanistan series. Chakaravarthy's selection for the 2026 Asian Games has also been in doubt now that the new setback has occurred.
The Indian team will be going to Japan for the Asian Games, so his recovery time is crucial. PTI reported that his latest injury makes him doubtful for the tournament.
