‘Bowling alone can't be a criterion for selection’ – Varun Chakravarthy’s fitness questioned ahead of India’s T20Is against England

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) right-arm spin bowler Varun Chakravarthy is backed with some massive bad luck as the spinner has been ruled out of the five-match T20I series against England, starting from March 12 at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium. This is the second time that Varun will not join the Indian contingent despite earning his maiden call-up in T20Is. 

Last year, after a brilliant performance in the IPL 2020, Varun was added to the national squad for the three-match T20I series against Australia but was forced to stay back after he sustained an injury. This time, the 29-year-old has failed to clear the fitness time. The spinner was given a second chance too but he couldn’t pass the test at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru and thus has been ruled out of the series.

“Varun Chakravarthy was selected because he recovered from the shoulder injury that ruled him out of the Australia series. He did his rehab at the NCA and started throwing normally.

“However, he has failed to clear the YoYo test mark stipulated for a 2km run at least twice,” a senior BCCI source, on the condition of anonymity, said as quoted by Times Now News.

Varun Chakravarthy not taking part in Vijay Hazare Trophy

Further, the source raised questions over the selection of Varun in the Indian squad despite him not featuring in a single game since IPL 2020. “We can understand he was doing his rehab during Mushtaq Ali (T20 Championship). But then again, he didn’t play a single Vijay Hazare Trophy game. 

“How do you assess his match fitness based on games that he played five months back? I guess Varun Chakravarthy is a lesson for selectors,” said the source. “If a player is generally not maintaining the standards set by this Indian team, his bowling alone can’t be criteria for selection,” the senior BCCI source added.

Meanwhile, left-arm pacer T Natarajan is also doubtful for the T20I series due to an apparent ‘shoulder niggle’. The pacer is undergoing recovery at the NCA and the medical staff is trying to get him fit for at least the later part of the series.