The Indian cricket team has faced a setback ahead of the 2026 Asian Games as premier spinner Varun Chakravarthy has been ruled out due to injury. The spinner suffered a side strain during the first T20 International against Afghanistan in Delhi, which has forced him to withdraw from both the upcoming continental games and a scheduled one-off T20 match against Japan.
Chakravarthy’s absence is a blow to India’s bowling department, as the squad had originally been finalized back in May. However, the nature of his injury necessitated an immediate change to the roster. In his place, the selectors have brought in Nigam to bolster the spin attack for the upcoming assignments.
While the loss of an experienced mystery spinner is significant, the team management views this as an opportunity for the replacement to step up. The Indian side remains a strong contender for the gold medal, and all eyes will now be on how the adjusted lineup performs in the absence of one of their primary wicket-takers. Recovery for Varun will be the priority as the team transitions into their Asian Games preparations.