Varun Chakravarthy Ruled Out Of Australia T20Is, BCCI Names Replacement

Updated - 09 Nov 2020, 06:00 PM

Varun Chakravarthy [Photo-Twitter]

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Varun Chakravarthy has been ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against Australia due to a shoulder injury, the BCCI confirmed on Monday. The spinner had earned his maiden call-up from Team India after impressing in the ongoing IPL 2020.

The Tamil Nadu spinner, who was playing for Kolkata Knight Riders, finished the competition as his team’s highest wicket-taker. He picked up 17 wickets in 13 games including the sensational spell of 5 for 20 against Delhi Capitals. Varun Chakravarthy’s economy-rate in IPL 2020 was also stunning as he conceded only 6.84 runs per over.

But the spinner’s hopes of impressing in the Indian colours have been dashed by the shoulder injury, the BCCI confirmed. The Indian cricket board also announced that he would be replaced by fast-bowler T Natarajan in the T20I squad.

“The spinner has been ruled out of the T20I series owing to a shoulder injury. The selectors have named T Natarajan as a replacement,” the BCCI said in a statement.

Natarajan was a part of the touring contingent but was not named in the main squads. He was previously named only among the reserve group of net bowlers. The left-arm pacer has been one of the finds of IPL 2020. Playing for SunRisers Hyderabad, Natarajan made a big impression with his accurate yorkers and death bowling. He finished the competition with 16 wickets.

The shoulder injury:

While the BCCI didn’t give details about Varun Chakravarthy’s injury, reports have suggested that he played the IPL with it. According to Indian Express, the spinner was having trouble in throwing the ball due to a labrum tear in his shoulder. The injury doesn’t affect his bowling but hinders his throwing.

It’s an injury that he has had for a while but has aggravated as the IPL progressed. The shoulder niggle has been the reason for KKR making him largely field inside the 30-yard circle to stop the injury from worsening. The report stated that the KKR informed the Indian team physio about the status of the injury after their IPL campaign ended, and after selection of the national team was done.