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The club vs country debate flared up again after the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs Gujarat Titans (GT) match, which was played at the Eden Gardens on May 16. Varun Chakraborty is the main reason for rekindling this debate.
Varun Chakravarthy is equally important for the IPL franchise and Team India. Due to the heavy workload and busy schedule, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is always open to protecting its key talents.
Why might Varun Chakraborty miss the remaining matches of IPL 2026?
Varun is one of the players who is recognized as one of the key players for the Men in Blue in T20Is. Following the conclusion of the ongoing Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026), the national team will be embarking on back-to-back high-stakes series.
Varun Chakravarthy is expected to be named in the main squad. Fitness is one of the main parameters for the selection process. Injury can take away opportunities from a player.
Varun Chakraborty’s fitness is currently under question. As mentioned by Kolkata Knight Riders head coach Abhishek Nair, the spinner has a hairline on his toe, which he suffered during the Delhi Capitals match.
“It is not easy for him. He has been trying to come in for the team for the last few days, but maybe in the next game, if his toe gets better, he will come in. But he has a little hairline on the toe, and it is on the foot that he lands on, so it is quite uncomfortable for him right now. We are very hopeful that he will be back in the next game,” Nair said in Raipur vs Royal Challengers Bangalore. Told during the KKR match.
Team India’s physio is keeping an eye on the situation
Chakraborty missed the RCB match but returned to action after the Gujarat Titans match. The 34-year-old suffered discomfort while bowling in last night’s match, raising concerns over his fitness ahead of seven T20 matches in Dublin and across England next month.
“I am aware of the fact that the KKR physio is in touch with the Team India physio (Kamlesh Jain). BCCI has been informed by KKR that Varun had injured his left leg while saving a four in the last match.”
“It is understood that he has a hairline fracture. I believe that as a BCCI centrally contracted player, his fitness is paramount and the BCCI medical team can intervene in it. Jain can be asked what was the input from the KKR medical team,” a senior BCCI official told PTI.
KKR will have to play 2 more matches
To stay in the title race, KKR will have to win their remaining matches in IPL 2026, which will be against Mumbai Indians (May 20) and Delhi Capitals (May 24) at the Eden Gardens.
It will be interesting to see whether Knight Riders get permission from the board to allow Varun Chakravarthy to take the field for the remainder of the season. The medical team of the board led by physio Kamlesh Jain can take an important decision on Varun.
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