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Varun Chakravarthy has been ruled out of India's remaining T20Is against Afghanistan after suffering an injury following his appearance in the opening match of the series. The Kolkata Knight Riders spinner had bowled four overs and returned figures of 1/16 in India's seven-wicket win before being forced out of the series.
The development has also raised fresh questions over the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE), where Chakravarthy had been undergoing rehabilitation. According to Dainik Jagran journalist Abhishek Tripathi, the spinner suffered the injury after making his return to competitive action.
Varun Chakravarthy ruled out as Centre of Excellence faces fresh questions
Chakravarthy's injury has brought the BCCI Centre of Excellence's rehabilitation process under scrutiny. The spinner had spent close to two months recovering before returning to the Indian team, only to suffer another setback after playing just one match.
The injury came after Chakravarthy delivered an impressive spell against Afghanistan. He dismissed Darwish Rasooli during his first over and finished with 1/16 from four overs. His spell included several deliveries that troubled Afghanistan's batters with changes in pace, movement and accuracy.
However, his return to action has now been cut short. The report has raised questions about how a player can spend such a long period recovering at the Centre of Excellence and then sustain an injury after bowling only four overs in his first match back.
Chakravarthy had spoken about injuries before the latest setback was reported and stressed that players must accept them as part of professional sport.
“Look, injuries are very common for all sports people” - Varun Chakravarthy
Speaking before the news of his injury emerged, Varun Chakravarthy said injuries are a natural part of an athlete's career and can sometimes happen when players push themselves beyond their limits.
“Look, injuries are very common for all sports people and it just shows that we are working, we are giving our best. Sometimes, we push beyond our limits and that is when the body gives in. So, that is when we have to take a step back and work better and come back stronger,” Chakravarthy added.
The spinner also joked about Afghanistan's decision to use spin against India's powerful batting line-up, particularly after Abhishek Sharma smashed 84 off 32 balls with seven sixes.
“While I was sitting in the dressing room, I was just telling someone that against our team, batting line-up, you can't bowl spin. So, if you bowl spin against our batting line-up, they are just going to smack left, right and centre. We are just so used to playing spinners.”
“We have our top eight batsmen and anyone can take on any spinner in this world. So, I have personally bowled against them, played against them. I know how hard it is. So, yeah, I feel for the spinners,” he said.
“If it is a good ball and if it still differs, I will always take it” - Varun Chakravarthy
After his 1/16 in the opening T20I, Varun Chakravarthy explained that he prefers to judge his performances through his process rather than simply focusing on the results.
“What you are referring to is results; I cannot go by results. If I go by results, I will start reacting to each and everything. If it goes my way, I will start being very happy. If it doesn't go my way, I will become very sad. I cannot go that way. So, the best way for me is to see the process,” Varun Chakravarthy said.
“If it is a good ball and if it still differs, I will always take it. But if it is a bad ball and it is a wicket, I have to go and work on it again. So, that's how it works,” the Kolkata Knight Riders off-spinner added.
He also said the England tour had provided valuable lessons despite the results not going India's way, insisting that every match offers an opportunity to learn.
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