On September 16, 2026, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officially confirmed significant roster adjustments to the national team’s white-ball setups. Senior leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy Asian Games squad plans have been canceled as he has been ruled out of both the upcoming one-off T20I against Japan and the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya due to a side strain. Uncapped leg-spinner Vipraj Nigam has earned his maiden international call-up as Chakravarthy’s replacement. Simultaneously, promising all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been withdrawn from the Asian Games roster to join India’s 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against the West Indies.
Read “India’s recent T20I series victory” to a relevant SportsZa article about India national cricket team.
Side Strain Rules Out Experienced Spinner
Varun Chakravarthy’s exclusion stems from a side strain sustained during the opening match of India’s recent T20I series against Afghanistan. The 35-year-old spinner, who recently climbed to fifth in the ICC Men’s T20I bowling rankings, was slated to be a pivotal weapon for India on Japan’s pitches. His injury forces the coaching staff to rebalance their spin strategy right before the team travels to Sano for the warm-up fixture against Japan on September 22, preceding the main Asian Games event.
Chakravarthy becomes the second player to drop out of the original Asian Games roster owing to physical setbacks, following pacer Harshit Rana, who was previously replaced by Yash Thakur.
Vipraj Nigam Earns Maiden Call-Up as Spinner Replacement
To fill the void in the Varun Chakravarthy Asian Games squad slot, selectors opted for 22-year-old leg-spin bowler Vipraj Nigam. Nigam caught the attention of the national selection committee through impressive performances in domestic T20 tournaments and IPL stints with Delhi Capitals.
Choosing Nigam over veteran options like Kuldeep Yadav—who was withheld to focus on the West Indies bilateral series—highlights the BCCI’s trust in emerging domestic talent. Nigam joins a spin contingent featuring Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, and Ravi Bishnoi. The Asian Games squad will continue under the leadership of captain Shreyas Iyer and vice-captain Tilak Varma.
Nitish Kumar Reddy Reassigned to West Indies ODIs
In a strategic shift, all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been removed from the continental multi-sport event to bolster the senior national side. Following a strong showing against Afghanistan, the selectors named Reddy to the 15-player ODI squad captained by Shubman Gill, which faces the West Indies in a three-match home series starting September 27 in Thiruvananthapuram.
Raed more: Official BCCI announcement details and full squad lists available at BCCI.tv.
Reddy’s inclusion in the senior ODI lineup reflects the team management’s focus on building all-round depth leading into the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup cycle. With Reddy shifted to ODI duties, India’s updated Varun Chakravarthy Asian Games squad contingent stands at 14 players.
India’s Updated Asian Games Squad
- Captain: Shreyas Iyer
- Vice-Captain: Tilak Varma
- Batters / All-Rounders: Abhishek Sharma, Shivam Dube, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
- Wicketkeepers: Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan
- Spinners: Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Vipraj Nigam
- Fast Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Yash Thakur
Looking Ahead
The primary focus now turns to seamless integration. Captain Shreyas Iyer and the management must recalibrate their bowling plans ahead of the Japan clash. Meanwhile, Nigam gets a golden opportunity to make a memorable international debut, while Reddy prepares to challenge the West Indies in the 50-over format. Both moves highlight the vast talent pool available to Indian cricket as the team manages multiple international commitments simultaneously.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why was Varun Chakravarthy removed from the squad?
Ans. Varun Chakravarthy was ruled out after suffering a side strain injury during the T20I match against Afghanistan.
2. Who is Vipraj Nigam?
Ans. Vipraj Nigam is an uncapped 22-year-old leg-spinner who has performed strongly in domestic cricket and the IPL for Delhi Capitals.
3. Why is Nitish Kumar Reddy not playing in the Asian Games?
Ans. Nitish Kumar Reddy was reassigned to India’s senior ODI squad for the three-match home series against the West Indies.
4. Who is leading India’s cricket team at the Asian Games?
Ans. Shreyas Iyer is the captain of the squad, with Tilak Varma serving as vice-captain.
5. When does India’s Asian Games campaign begin?
Ans. India’s schedule starts with a warm-up T20I against Japan on September 22, followed by the Asian Games tournament in Japan.
