India’s mystery spinner, Varun Chakaravarthy, is out of the two-match IND vs IRE T20I series, starting June 26. Chakaravarthy suffered two injuries during IPL 2026, yet he played through those for Kolkata Knight Riders. The most troubling was his left foot injury. Now, India will miss out on Chakaravarthy’s services. He remains doubtful for the five-match IND vs ENG T20I series, starting July 1, as he is currently in rehab at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
“Varun Chakravarthy is in the final stages of his rehab at the BCCI COE following his left foot injury sustained in the TATA IPL 2026. He is ruled out of the T20I series against Ireland,” BCCI said in a statement on June 21.
India’s squad for Ireland T20Is (updated)
However, for the IND vs IRE T20I series, India did not name a replacement for Chakaravarthy. If he gets fitness clearance from the BCCI COE before July 1, he will board the flight to England. Otherwise, India will have to name a replacement.
Did India pay for KKR’s mistake?
Varun Chakaravarthy had a torrid IPL 2026. Following T20 World Cup 2026, he suffered fractures in two bowling fingers. Then, he developed a hairline fracture in his left toe in May after an Ishan Kishan struck him on the foot in a KKR vs SRH match. He missed the next two games. Yet, he returned soon after and played regularly. In all, he played 11 matches through injuries and picked up 11 wickets at an economy rate of 8.78. It was his second-worst season since 2022.
KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane admitted that Chakaravarthy played with injuries. Yet, the KKR management did not stop him from playing.
“Varun was eager to play. And he gets all the credit because in that injury, you show how important the team is for you. Varun was completely ready. Yes, we had to give him a break in one match because he was in a lot of pain. But he thought he could play. That communication came from him,” Rahane said in a pre-match press conference in late May.
While Rahane and his KKR colleagues praised his bravery, he was visibly in pain during matches. And as a result, India will now miss him in Ireland, and probably in England. Despite knowing the extent of his injuries, KKR coach Abhishek Nayar further supported him playing through pain and put it on Chakaravarthy.
“He has already broken quite a few bones during this tournament, specifically two fingers, and now his toe. He is someone who is highly motivated and feels very deeply for the franchise, too. Varun is very emotional when it comes to this team and everyone associated with it. That is the thought process behind his wanting to continue rather than forcing himself to do so. Sometimes players are not keen to push through, but he has been very keen because of the love he has for the city and the franchise,” Abhishek Nayar said in a pre-match press conference.
BCCI unhappy with injury management
What was baffling was that the BCCI medical team was in touch with the KKR management and physio. KKR even informed BCCI about Chakaravarthy’s injury. Yet, BCCI did not intervene, as it was not properly advised by KKR. The team was in a desperate situation, and an IPL 2026 playoff spot was on the line. But instead of benching him and sending him to the CoE, KKR allowed him to play matches and bowl the full quota of overs. BCCI was not happy with how things unfolded.
“I know for a fact that KKR physio is in touch with Team India physio (Kamlesh Jain). There has been a communication from KKR to BCCI that in a previous match, Varun injured his left foot while saving a boundary. It is understood that he has a hairline fracture. I believe as a centrally contracted player of the BCCI, his fitness is paramount and the BCCI medical team could intervene. Jain might be asked as to what the input from the KKR medical team,” a BCCI official told PTI.
