Why Varun Chakravarthy is Not Playing Today in 2nd T20I IND vs AFG? Replacement Named

India enter the second T20I against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium looking to win the three-match series, with confidence high after winning the toss and choosing to bowl first again. However, their plans have suffered a major setback. Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy has been ruled out of the rest of the series after suffering a fresh side strain during the opening game.

Having recently returned to action after recovering from a hamstring injury, the 35-year-old bowled an impressive four-over spell of 1/16 in the first match, but felt discomfort soon after. With Chakravarthy now unavailable and returning for further medical checks, the team management has added a like-for-like replacement to strengthen the spin attack for tonight's important clash. Check out the article to find out the Varun Chakravarthy injury replacement.

Why Varun Chakravarthy is Not Playing Today in 2nd T20I IND vs AFG?

The mystery spinner's return to the national setup was cut short after he complained of physical discomfort following the opening match in Delhi. Medical evaluations and MRI scans confirmed a fresh side strain, ruling him out of the remainder of the series and forcing him to head back to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) for further management.

The development comes as a major frustration, considering he had only recently recovered from a hamstring injury suffered during the England tour. His absence has also cast serious doubt over his availability for the upcoming Asian Games. To fill the void in the bowling attack, Ravi Bishnoi has stepped into the playing 11 as the Varun Chakravarthy replacement.

Is Ravi Bishnoi a Like-for-Like Replacement for Varun Chakravarthy?

Ravi Bishnoi is a good replacement for one of the best spinners in the world, Varun Chakravarthy, but he is not a completely like-for-like replacement. Chakravarthy is a mystery spinner who uses different variations, including top-spinners and carrom balls.

Bishnoi is a wrist-spinner who mainly depends on quick leg-breaks and a dangerous googly. However, Bishnoi has plenty of experience in T20 cricket and is the best bowling option if Varun is injured or unavailable. He has taken 61 wickets in 47 T20Is at an average of 21.10 and an economy rate of 7.60. Chakravarthy, meanwhile, has 75 wickets in 49 T20Is at an average of 17.35 and an economy rate of 7.59.