Varun Chakaravarthy Exits T20I Series Against Afghanistan Due to Injury

Indian spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has been sidelined from the T20I series against Afghanistan due to a side strain. The BCCI confirmed the injury occurred while he was bowling in the first match. Ravi Bishnoi has been named as his replacement. Chakaravarthy is now focused on regaining fitness ahead of upcoming international matches, including a T20I against Japan and the Asian Games 2026. His recent return to the squad followed a two-month recovery from a hamstring injury, where he had a successful comeback performance.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 15, 2026, 21:07 IST

BCCI Announces Injury Update

Indian spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has been ruled out of the current T20I series against Afghanistan in Delhi due to discomfort in his left lateral abdominal area, as confirmed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday.

Details of the Injury

In a statement shared on X, the BCCI reported that Chakaravarthy sustained a side strain while bowling during the first T20I. The statement read, "Varun Chakaravarthy felt sudden discomfort in his left lateral abdominal region while delivering his third over in the first T20I. Scans have confirmed a side strain, leading to his exclusion from the remaining matches of the series."

Replacement Announced

During the toss for the second T20I at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday, Indian captain Shreyas Iyer revealed that Ravi Bishnoi would take Chakaravarthy's place in the playing eleven.

Chakaravarthy's Fitness Journey

Chakaravarthy is now in a race against time to recover before India's upcoming international fixtures, which include a T20I against Japan and the Asian Games 2026. He had just made his return to the T20I squad in the series opener on Sunday after a two-month hiatus due to a hamstring injury incurred during the third T20I against England in July. In his comeback match, he performed well, achieving figures of 1/16 in four overs, contributing to India's seven-wicket victory.