Varun Chakaravarthy out of Asian Games 2026, DC star likely in

Star India spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has been ruled out of the Asian Games 2026 after suffering a side strain in the first T20I against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The injury has ruled him out of the ongoing series and the upcoming continental tournament.

Chakaravarthy had recently returned to the Indian team after recovering from an injury suffered during the England T20I series. He played in the first T20I against Afghanistan in New Delhi and bowled four overs without conceding a boundary. However, his return was cut short after he picked up the side strain.

India have reportedly made a last-minute change to their Asian Games squad, with Delhi Capitals youngster Vipraj Nigam likely to replace Chakaravarthy. The Asian Games are scheduled to begin on September 19 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, while the men’s cricket competition is set to start on September 24.

Varun Chakaravarthy ruled out of Asian Games 2026 after fresh injury setback

Varun Chakaravarthy has been ruled out of the Asian Games 2026 after suffering a fresh injury setback. The mystery spinner played the first T20I against Afghanistan in New Delhi and bowled four overs without conceding a boundary.

After the opening match, Chakaravarthy was found to have suffered a new injury. He has been ruled out of the remaining matches against Afghanistan after picking up a fresh side strain.

According to Sports Today, the South Indian spinner has now also been ruled out of the Asian Games 2026 due to the injury he suffered during the Afghanistan series. His absence is a setback for India ahead of the tournament.

Side strain confirmed via MRI — BCCI source reveals recovery timeline is "Extremely Tight"

An MRI scan has confirmed that Varun Chakaravarthy suffered a side strain during the first T20I against Afghanistan. The 35-year-old felt discomfort while bowling his third over and was later sent to the BCCI Centre of Excellence for further assessment. A BCCI source said his recovery timeline is extremely tight, and he is currently out for an indefinite period.

Following his economical spell against Afghanistan, Chakaravarthy was expected to play an important role in India’s Asian Games campaign. India are the defending champions after winning the gold medal in the 2023 edition. However, with the men’s cricket competition starting on September 24 and India’s first match scheduled for September 28, there is not enough time for Chakaravarthy to recover and return to the squad.

Chakaravarthy’s latest injury is a setback for India ahead of the tournament. The team will now need to consider a replacement for the mystery spinner. Ravi Bishnoi is already part of India’s Asian Games squad, while Vipraj Nigam and Kuldeep Yadav were among the available options considered by the selectors.

Vipraj Nigam emerges as frontrunner among replacements as BCCI weighs final call

Vipraj Nigam has emerged as one of the main options to replace Varun Chakaravarthy in India’s Asian Games squad. The young all-rounder was picked for the tri-series involving Afghanistan A and Sri Lanka A, where he impressed with both bat and ball. Batting at No. 9, he scored a half-century against Sri Lanka A and also took seven wickets during the series.

The Delhi Capitals all-rounder has shown that he can contribute in both departments. His ability to score useful runs in the lower order could make him a valuable option for India. The team management could consider rewarding his recent performances with a place in the Asian Games squad.

Nigam has played 33 T20 matches, scoring 244 runs at a strike rate of 157.41 and taking 34 wickets. He has also impressed in the IPL, where he has a strike rate of 176.40. His performances in the shortest format have strengthened his case for a potential call-up to the Asian Games squad.