Varun Chakravarthy limps off the field against DC, concerns regarding T20 World Cup fitness intensify

India’s mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy’s fitness is becoming a slight concern for the team ahead of the T20 World Cup 2021, scheduled to be played from October 17 to November 14 in the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Chakravarthy was seen limping off the field during his team Kolkata Knight Riders’ clash against Delhi Capitals in the second qualifier of the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League.

The 30-year-old, who has been selected in India’s 15-member squad for the multi-team tournament, has been in fine form in the league, having scalped 18 wickets in 16 fixtures at an average of 22.77 and a brilliant economy rate of 6.40. However, the leg-spinner has not been one of the fittest members in an otherwise agile Indian team, having previously failed fitness tests.

Meanwhile, on October 13, India swapped all-rounder Shardul Thakur with Axar Patel in the T20 World Cup squad, while also announcing that eight players – Venkatesh Iyer, Avesh Khan, Umran Malik, Harshal Patel, Lukman Meriwala, Karn Sharma, Shahbaz Ahmed and K Gowtham – will stay back in Dubai after the IPL and join the Indian team’s bubble to assist them in the preparations for the marquee tournament.

Varun Chakravarthy limping off wasn't a good sign …

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 13, 2021

Hardik Pandya’s participation hangs in balance

The Super12 teams have time until October 15 to finalize their squads for the T20 World Cup. “Teams can change their teams seven days before the start of their support period. India’s support period starts with the Super 12 which begin on Oct 23. So, they have time to change the team till Oct 15 at midnight,” a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) source was recently quoted as saying by TOI.

“It’s not decided if Hardik will be dropped altogether if he doesn’t get bowling ready. But he is running out of time as an allrounder,” the BCCI source had added.

“The selectors will wait and watch on how Hardik shapes up in the next few days. The selectors went with just three genuine pacers because it was believed Hardik would be fit enough to bowl his quota of overs. Since he hasn’t bowled at all in the IPL, there’s no form to go by.”

India, who are placed in Group B, will kickstart their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 24.

Check the latest updates of the T20 World Cup schedule, T20 World cup Teams and Squads, T20 World Cup Points table, and more on CricTracker.