Varun Chakravarthy Exits Afghanistan T20I Series Due to Injury
Injury Sidelines Varun Chakravarthy from T20I Series
New Delhi, September 14: Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy has been officially ruled out for the remainder of the T20I series against Afghanistan due to an injury, according to reports.
Chakravarthy played a pivotal role in India's first T20I victory over Afghanistan, where he delivered an impressive performance, taking 1 wicket for just 16 runs in four overs, including a stunning delivery that bowled out Darwish Rasooli.
Unfortunately, sources indicate that his participation in the series has come to an end due to this injury. Varun had recently returned to action during the England series in July after spending considerable time in rehabilitation for a foot injury at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. This situation raises concerns about injury management, as several Indian players have faced similar issues recently.
This year has been particularly challenging for Chakravarthy, who has dealt with a hairline fracture in his foot and a hand injury during the Kolkata Knight Riders' IPL 2026 season. He played only 11 matches, claiming 11 wickets with an average of 32.72 and an economy rate of 8.78, achieving best figures of 3/14.
In 16 T20I matches this year, he has taken 20 wickets at an average of 24.15 and an economy rate of 8.94, with his best performance being 3/7. Notably, he was a key player in the T20 World Cup, where he ended up as one of the joint-highest wicket-takers alongside Jasprit Bumrah, each with 14 wickets, despite a decline in performance during the later stages of the tournament.
Chakravarthy missed India's tour to Ireland, where the team suffered a surprising 0-2 defeat, as he was still recovering from his injury, with Ravi Bishnoi stepping in for him. He made his comeback during the T20I series against England, where he took a wicket in two matches.
In the recent match against Afghanistan, India chose to bowl first, restricting Afghanistan to 156/8, thanks to a resilient 64* from Azmatullah Omarzai. Arshdeep Singh was outstanding with the ball, taking 3 wickets for 19 runs. During India's chase, Abhishek Sharma scored a remarkable 82 runs off just 32 balls, supported by Ishan Kishan's 42 runs, leading to a swift victory in just 13.4 overs.