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DC Star Set to Replace Varun Chakaravarthy in Asian Games: The 2026 Asian Games are set to begin on September 19, with the men's cricket competition scheduled to start on September 24. Just before the tournament's commencement, the Indian cricket team has suffered a major setback. Star mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has been ruled out of the Asian Games due to a side strain injury. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is preparing to include Delhi Capitals' young all-rounder Vipraj Nigam in the squad as his replacement.
Varun Chakaravarthy Ruled Out After Side Strain Injury Against Afghanistan
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Varun Chakaravarthy was part of the first T20 match played against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on September 13. In that match, he bowled impressively, claiming one wicket for just 16 runs in his four-over spell. A post-match MRI scan confirmed that he was suffering from a side strain. Due to this injury, he was not only ruled out of the remaining matches of the Afghanistan series but has now also been sidelined from the Asian Games.
Vipraj Nigam Leads Race Over Kuldeep Yadav as Replacement
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According to the news agency PTI, Varun Chakaravarthy's injury is serious, and he will be out of action for an extended period. Experienced spinner Kuldeep Yadav and young Vipraj Nigam were considered as potential replacements. However, since Kuldeep Yadav is set to participate in the ODI series against the West Indies starting later this month, his participation in the Asian Games appears unlikely. Consequently, the board is likely to finalize Vipraj Nigam's selection.
Also Read: Ajit Agarkar Tenure Ends: WI Squad Selection His Last Meeting as Chief Selector
Who is Vipraj Nigam? Career Stats and IPL Profile
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Vipraj Nigam is a talented leg-spinner and a useful lower-order batsman. He represents the Delhi Capitals in the IPL.
- Bowling Performance: He has taken 34 wickets in 33 matches of his T20 career.
- Batting Ability: Capable of scoring quick runs in the lower order, Vipraj has scored 244 runs in T20s so far, with a highest individual score of 39.
Asian Games 2026: Team India Schedule & Format
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A total of 10 teams are participating in the men's cricket tournament at the Asian Games. Based on ICC rankings and the seeding system, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh have been granted direct entry into the quarter-finals. Team India will begin its campaign with a quarter-final match on September 28.
Also Read: Most Runs in T20I History: Jos Buttler Moves to 2nd Spot Behind Babar Azam
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