These days the Afghanistan team is hosting the Indian team in a 3-match T20 series in India. In the first match of the series, Afghanistan had to face a crushing defeat by 72 runs. The second match of the series is to be played on 15 September. Bad news came for Team India on Monday before the second match. Actually, Varun Chakraborty will no longer be able to participate in the series due to injury.

Varun Chakraborty's injury is a big blow for the Indian team. Varun may also be out of Asian Games 2026 due to injury. He is not only a good bowler, but is also one of the few aggressive wicket-taking spinners in India who has the ability to help the team win with his bowling in pressure matches.

In this article, we will talk about those 3 players who may get a chance to join Team India's squad after Varun Chakraborty is out of the Asian Games 2026.

3. Yash Raj Punja

If the Indian team management sees the Asian Games as an opportunity to groom young players, then 20-year-old Yash Raj Punja can be an option.

Yash Raj is a young leg spinner who has impressed with his bowling in the IPL. He took 9 wickets with an economy of 9.30. However, he still needs to gain a little more experience in terms of stopping runs, but his ability to turn the ball and bowl different types of balls makes him special.

He can also be given the experience of international cricket by giving him a chance in the remaining two T20I matches against Afghanistan. In the presence of experienced spinners like Ravi Bishnoi, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, Yash Raj can focus on his bowling without much pressure.

2. Krunal Pandya

If the team management looks at an experienced player as an alternative in the absence of Varun Chakraborty, then Krunal Pandya can be a strong name. Last season, he took 14 wickets at an average of 30.35 and economy of 8.41.

For some time now, Krunal has impressed with his economical bowling in T-20 cricket. He has also played an important role in RCB's consecutive title wins. It is not easy for the batsmen to score fast against his bowling.

With Axar Patel in the team, there will definitely be two left-arm spinners, but Krunal's usefulness is not limited to bowling only. He also has the ability to score runs quickly in the lower order, which can provide additional strength to the team's batting order.

1. Kuldeep Yadav

The safest and most experienced option for Varun Chakraborty could be Kuldeep Yadav. Kuldeep has long experience of playing big matches in international cricket. His form has not been very special in recent times and he has not been the first choice of head coach Gautam Gambhir, but his ability cannot be questioned.

Kuldeep has shown signs of returning to his form by taking 10 wickets in the County Championship. Even in IPL, his bowling was affected due to his fitness. If he remains completely fit, he can play the role of taking wickets in the middle overs very well.

Kuldeep's Chinaman bowling and his variations can become a big challenge for the opposition batsmen in the Asian Games. Considering his experience and performance at the international level, he seems to be the strongest contender to replace Varun.