By Khushi Namdev
Varun Chakaravarthy’s return to competitive cricket has suffered another setback. The spinner, who recently completed nearly two months of rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, has sustained another injury. According to Cricbuzz, the 35-year-old spinner has complained of a side strain due to which he will miss the ongoing T20I series against Afghanistan.
This has also cast doubt on his participation in the upcoming Asian Games in Japan.
Chakaravarthy To Return To Bengaluru
Chakaravarthy complained of discomfort after India’s match against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday. Following this, the team management has decided to release him from the squad.
The spinner is expected to travel to Bengaluru, where he will meet the CoE medical team within the next 24-48 hours. He is likely to undergo scans before the medical team decides the extent of the injury and his next course of action.
The timing, however, could make things difficult for the spinner. The Indian cricket team is scheduled to leave for Japan from New Delhi on September 18, while their first Asian Games match is all set to be played on September 28.
Impressive Return Before Injury
The injury came just after Chakaravarthy appeared to be finding his rhythm again. He completed his full quota of four overs against Afghanistan on Sunday and finished with figures of 1/16.
Apart from two no-balls, the spinner looked in good touch and seemed to be getting back to his best form after a difficult period.
Chakaravarthy had earlier returned midway through India’s T20I series in England in July after suffering a hamstring injury. He subsequently missed the Zimbabwe series and spent nearly two months at the CoE working on his recovery.
He was then picked for both the Afghanistan series and the Asian Games after being declared fit.
What Chakaravarthy Said About Injuries
Interestingly, Chakaravarthy had spoken about injuries after Sunday’s game, calling them a normal part of an athlete’s career.
He said that players sometimes push themselves beyond their limits, and that is when the body asks them to take a step back.
For now, Chakaravarthy’s scans will determine whether he can make it to Japan or will have to begin another period of recovery.