Varun Chakaravarthy ruled out of India’s 2nd T20I vs Afghanistan in Delhi with side strain
Varun Chakaravarthy is not playing in India’s second T20I against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on September 15, 2026, after sustaining a fresh side strain. India won the series opener by seven wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
India returned to action against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium with several players given opportunities following recent struggles in the shortest format, but the hosts were forced into a change to their playing XI for the second match. Varun Chakaravarthy had made a much-anticipated comeback from a hamstring injury sustained on India’s England tour and featured in the series opener. In that first game he bowled his full quota of four overs and finished with figures of 1/16.
As reported by BCCI sources quoted by India Today, medical scans confirmed the spinner had suffered a fresh side strain after the opener. "It is a fresh injury. MRI has revealed that it is a side strain. He is out of the series and looks unlikely for Asian Games," said the BCCI source. The diagnosis came following the team’s assessment after the first T20I.
The timing of the setback is particularly frustrating given Chakaravarthy had only recently returned to international cricket following his hamstring rehabilitation. That prior recovery had enabled his selection for the opener, but the new problem prevents him from continuing in the current Afghanistan series. The side strain therefore removes him from immediate selection consideration for the remaining matches.
India’s management had already included a second wrist spinner in the touring squad, which reduced the short-term selection disruption. Ravi Bishnoi has been slated into India’s playing XI for the second T20I against Afghanistan to cover the change. Bishnoi’s inclusion fills the slot vacated by Chakaravarthy for the match at Arun Jaitley.
The second T20I was expected to give additional players chances to press for places as India seek to consolidate their white-ball combinations. With the hosts leading 1-0, the match in New Delhi offered an opportunity to seal the three-match series. Team balance was adjusted without the need for an emergency selection due to the squad composition.
With Ravi Bishnoi named in the XI for the second T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, India will attempt to clinch the three-match series while Varun Chakaravarthy remains sidelined for the remainder of the Afghanistan fixtures and is unlikely to feature at the Asian Games, according to the BCCI source.
