Varun Chakaravarthy Withdraws from 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 sustained during the first match. The BCCI confirmed his injury, and Ravi Bishnoi has been named as his replacement. Chakaravarthy, who recently returned to the squad after recovering from a hamstring injury, is now focused on regaining fitness for upcoming international matches, including a T20I against Japan and the Asian Games 2026. Read on for more details about his injury and the team's adjustments.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 16, 2026, 00:04 IST

Injury Forces Chakaravarthy Out of T20I Series

New Delhi, September 15: Indian spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has been ruled out of the ongoing T20I series against Afghanistan due to discomfort in his left abdominal area, as confirmed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday.

According to a statement on X, Chakaravarthy sustained a side strain while bowling during the first T20I match and will not participate in the remaining games of the series.

"Varun Chakaravarthy felt sudden discomfort in his left lateral abdominal region while delivering his third over in the first T20I. Medical scans have confirmed a side strain, leading to his exclusion from the last two T20Is," the BCCI reported.

During the toss for the second T20I at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Indian captain Shreyas Iyer announced that Ravi Bishnoi would take Chakaravarthy's place in the lineup.

Chakaravarthy is now focused on regaining his fitness ahead of India's upcoming matches, including a one-off T20I against Japan and the Asian Games 2026.

He had just made his return to the T20I squad in the series opener after a two-month hiatus due to a hamstring injury he suffered during the third T20I against England in July. In his comeback match, he performed well, taking 1 wicket for 16 runs in four overs, contributing to India's seven-wicket victory.