By Siddhant Tripathi2 min read
In a surprising development for Indian cricket, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy has been ruled out of the upcoming Asian Games campaign due to a side strain. Rather than turning to seasoned wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, the national selection panel has handed an unexpected maiden international call-up to Delhi Capitals all-rounder Vipraj Nigam.
Chakravarthy picked up the injury during the first T20I against Afghanistan. Although the spinner completed his full four-over quota in that fixture, he reported physical discomfort shortly after the match. Medical assessments confirmed a side strain, forcing him out of the remainder of the series and ruling him out of the continental games. The setback halts what had been a promising international resurgence for Chakravarthy following his previous fitness concerns.
Vipraj Nigam Earns Surprise India Asian Games Squad Call-Up
When news of Chakravarthy’s injury surfaced, widespread expectation pointed toward Kuldeep Yadav stepping in as a direct replacement. However, Kuldeep’s absence is entirely strategic rather than a reflection of form or a snub from short-format planning.
The Asian Games schedule clashes directly with India’s upcoming ODI commitments against the West Indies. With the team management prioritizing the 50-over setup and managing workloads ahead of major global tournaments, Kuldeep remains locked into the primary white-ball plans. This scheduling overlap paved the way for selectors to reward a fresh domestic performer on the continental stage.
Domestic Consistency and Lower-Order Firepower Pay Off
Vipraj Nigam has steadily risen through the ranks thanks to his versatile leg-spin and brisk lower-order hitting. The 22-year-old made a strong impression for Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League, producing sharp cameos and crucial breakthroughs. He further reinforced his credentials in the UP T20 League with solid, dependable displays for the Lucknow Falcons.
Nigam’s dual ability with bat and ball offers useful balance to the squad setup. If handed a starting spot in the tournament, his leg-spin variations and quick scoring ability lower down the order can provide critical dynamic value in high-pressure knockout situations.
India Eye Continental Gold in Japan
The men’s cricket competition at the Asian Games begins on September 24, with India entering the contest directly at the quarterfinal stage. The squad has witnessed a couple of injury-enforced tweaks, with Yash Thakur previously replacing Harshit Rana, and now Nigam stepping in for Chakravarthy.
Led by a vibrant young core that includes Tilak Varma, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, and Ravi Bishnoi, India enter the tournament among the firm gold-medal favourites. For Nigam, the late call-up presents a career-defining stage to announce his readiness for international cricket.