Team India has been forced into a late squad modification ahead of the men’s cricket tournament at the Asian Games 2026—set to begin on September 24 in Aichi-Nagoya, with India entering directly in the quarterfinals after the multi-sport event opens on September 19—following an indefinite injury layoff for spinner Varun Chakravarthy. Having recently returned to international contention following a previous hamstring setback, Chakravarthy felt discomfort during his third over in the first T20I against Afghanistan, leading to his exit from the series and subsequent assessment at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. A PTI source revealed that the selection panel deliberated between Vipraj Nigam and Kuldeep Yadav from the preliminary roster, ultimately choosing Kuldeep for the upcoming West Indies ODI series later this month, which cleared the path for Delhi Capitals youngster Vipraj Nigam. The 22-year-old uncapped or emerging prospect has established his domestic credentials through 19 IPL appearances, claiming 13 wickets while showcasing notable lower-order batting utility with a strike rate hovering around 176, making him a dynamic replacement for the side.
