AUS v IND 2020-21: Varun Chakravarthy picked in India's T20I squad despite injured shoulder, says report

The finger-spinner is learnt to have sustained the injury before the IPL 2020 in UAE.

By Kashish Chadha - 09 Nov, 2020

The issue around Rohit Sharma's hamstring injury hasn't even settled yet and it has emerged that finger-spinner Varun Chakravarthy has been carrying an injured shoulder himself.

Handed his maiden call-up in the T20I squad for the tour to Australia after terrific performances in IPL 2020, the deceptive spinner was reported by Times of India on Monday (November 9) to be going through rehab on the shoulder for an injury sustained before the tournament in UAE. 

Read Also: Wriddhiman Saha doubtful for Australia Test series after sustaining hamstring tear

“Chakravarthy has a labrum tear on his right shoulder. It generally requires a surgery. He is struggling to throw due to this injury. He did not opt for the surgery because he wanted to play the IPL. He is undergoing rehab currently," a source near the matter was quoted saying in the TOI report. 

"This is a clear case of hiding an injury of a player. Even if he is fit enough to bowl, it will be difficult for him to throw in the huge grounds of Australia."

The role of Chakravarthy's IPL franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), can also be brought under scanner here. 

The report says, KKR "didn’t inform the selectors, Team India or the National Cricket Academy (NCA) during the IPL. The KKR management sent his report to Team India after the IPL."

The labrum tear which is mentioned here takes around six weeks to heal. At the end of KKR's campaign, Chakravarthy moved to the bio-bubble created for Team India players in Dubai and is due to depart for Australia along with the rest of the squad on November 12. 

"Varun has been training with the other players at the ICC Academy in Dubai. He was there at the nets. The team physio must be looking into his condition," a BCCI source told TOI

Chakravarthy had taken 17 wickets in 13 innings and went at only 6.84 runs per over in IPL this year. The Tamil Nadu tweaker was crucial to strengthening KKR's bid for a playoff spot until they lost out on NRR to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). 

His injury has come to light at a time when the BCCI has faced scrutiny over Rohit's case, with the limited-overs vice-captain and all-format opener turning up for Mumbai Indians (MI) while being left out of the Indian team. 

By Kashish Chadha - 09 Nov, 2020

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