The country versus club debate was reignited when Varun Chakravarthy bowled his entire allotted number of overs for the Kolkata Knight Riders during the IPL 2026 match against Gujarat Titans in Kolkata on Saturday, despite India’s top T20 spinner having a hairline fracture that required rest.
People associated with the Indian squad have not been pleased to watch Chakravarthy limp in agony while continuing to bowl, especially as the nation is set to play up to seven Twenty20 Internationals in Dublin and around England next month.
“I know for a fact that KKR physio is in touch with Team India physio (Kamlesh Jain). There has been a communication from KKR to BCCI that in a previous match, Varun injured his left foot while saving a boundary. It is understood that he has a hairline fracture. I believe as a centrally contracted player of the BCCI, his fitness is paramount and the BCCI medical team could intervene. Jain might be asked as to what was the input from the KKR medical team,” PTI quoted a senior BCCI official as saying.
The question is still whether the Tamil Nadu mystery spinner will have enough time to recover before the UK tour begins on June 26 if his injury gets worse as a result of the team’s desperation, even though Chakravarthy is regarded as a T20 specialist and the forthcoming Afghanistan home series does not include the shortest version games.
However, why the player continued to bowl when he was clearly uncomfortable returning to his run-up is being questioned. He managed just three dot balls and conceded 47 runs in four wicketless overs.
“If Varun was rested against RCB in the last game because of his foot injury, it is imperative to know how he couldn’t make it for that game (on May 13) after four-day break (vs DC on May 8) but played on Saturday. Yes, KKR’s campaign is on the line but can the BCCI allow franchises this kind of indiscretion? A player would want to play through pain but is that a fair thing?,” the official questioned.
It will be interesting to see whether the BCCI medical team, led by physio Kamlesh Jain, steps in and advises KKR against fielding Varun Chakravarthy in their remaining two league matches. KKR are set to face Mumbai Indians on May 20 and Delhi Capitals on May 24 at Eden Gardens.
