Varun Chakaravarthy’s injury has given India a selection headache ahead of the 2026 Asian Games.
The spinner has been ruled out of the remaining Afghanistan T20Is after suffering a side strain, and India could be forced to look for a replacement if he does not recover in time for the tournament in Japan.
Kuldeep Yadav is likely to be one of the first names considered. The left arm wrist spinner has plenty of international experience and recently impressed for Yorkshire, including a 10 wicket haul in a county match.
He also played nine IPL games in 2026 and took 10 wickets. Kuldeep’s ability to take wickets in the middle overs makes him a natural option if India want a like for like replacement.
Krunal Pandya could give the selectors a different option. The left arm spinner had a good IPL 2026 campaign with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, taking 15 wickets.
He can also contribute with the bat, which could help India maintain their balance. The issue is that India already have Axar Patel, another left arm orthodox spinner, in the squad.
Vipraj Nigam could be the wildcard option. The Delhi Capitals allbrounder has already gained IPL experience and offers leg spin along with batting ability.
He took 13 wickets in the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, although he played only five IPL matches in 2026 and picked up two wickets.
For now, India’s first choice will be to wait for Varun’s fitness update. But if the spinner is unavailable for the Asian Games, the selectors will have to decide between Kuldeep’s experience, Krunal’s all round ability and Nigam’s potential.
With the tournament approaching, which option makes the most sense for India?
