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Given the success of mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy in the Indian Premier League, many cricket pundits are labelling him the X-factor in India's squad for the T20 World Cup, beginning from October 17. However, it is not all good news surrounding the Kolkata Knight Riders spinner as it is being learnt that his fitness is far from being at his prime.
It is being reported that the Board of Control for Cricket in India is worried about Chakravarthy as his knees are not in a good condition. A source close to the Indian cricket board has disclosed that the spinner is complaining of pain and had it not been for a tournament like a World Cup, perhaps the Indian team would not have risked playing him.
Chakravarthy is in pain: BCCI source
The source further revealed that the right-arm spinner who is continuing his good performances for KKR in IPL 2021 and has scalped 15 wickets in the 13 matches this season, might have to undergo a rehabilitation programme in order to regain proper fitness. However, BCCI wants him ready to go for the ICC event in Oman and UAE.
"Varun’s knees are not in greatest condition. He is in pain and trust me had it not been in a T20 World Cup, perhaps even Indian team management wouldn’t have taken the risk of playing him. To be 100 per cent fit, he might later require an extensive rehab but right now, the focus will be on his pain management during T20 World Cup," a BCCI source was quoted by India Today.
KKR provided the spinner painkillers ahead of matches
In a stunning revelation made in the same report, it is being claimed that the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise gives the 30-year-old painkillers so that he can bowl the 4 overs in a match. In such a case, it would be interesting to see the condition of his knee before India's first match in the tournament against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 24.
The mind game between the two neighbouring South Asian countries has already commenced. While former Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq has said that India would not be able to compete against the Men in Green, the Indians would also know at the back of their minds that they need to get off their campaign with a winning start.