Varun Chakravarthy claims 'fake injury news' were made to sideline him from Team India

Varun Chakravarthy, the bowler who shot to fame with his performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), has opened up on his non-selection from the Indian team, alleging that some people had been giving out “fake injury news” in order to remain sidelined.

Chakravarthy made his senior India debut in a T20I against Sri Lanka in 2021, and would also go onto find a place in the squad for the 2021 T20 World Cup. Varun, however, endured wicketless returns in three matches he played in the showpiece tournament, including 0/33 against Pakistan. Chakravarthy has not been recalled to the team since, and was only briefly sidelined with an injury.

“It was very tough because right after I finished the World Cup, it was not a big injury; it was a very small injury. It just took me two or three weeks to be back on track, but after that, I got sidelined, and people kept giving the same excuse that I am injured, but on the other hand, I was not injured all that while. I don’t know, [if] it was just a rumour, or someone just wanting to spread this news about me so that they can sideline me. But that’s how life is; it is unfair. It was very hard on me,” Varun was quoted as saying by CricXtasy.

That led to a desperate Varun to reconsider his bowling approach in IPL 2022, but ended up having a dismal tournament that year, finishing with just six wickets.

“IPL 2022 was not a great season because what happened in 2021 after the World Cup got within me, and I was very desperate to be back in the Indian side. So I wanted to prove to everyone. I was being very desperate. I started changing many things in my bowling, which finally affected my mental peace, and I was not able to do my normal bowling also. So that IPL was bad for me,” said Varun.

In 2023 IPL, Varun bounced back with an excellent season for KKR, picking 20 wickets from four matches. However, Varun explained that he wasn’t desperate anymore.

“I am not desperate anymore. I know how things work. Even the best of the best – there is news that they are going to sideline that person, so who am I? I don’t have any expectations. Let’s see whatever comes my way. I will do my best,” added the 32-year-old.

The best thing is to accept the reality. There’s no one out there in the competitive world who is going to really help you or think good for you. Everyone has their own competition, everyone has their own struggles.

“The best thing I can do is just turn up for the matches, do my best, and rest, leave it to the almighty, and whatever happens, happens. The rumours, it did create a very big dent in my career, but I have just accepted it,” stated the Karnataka-born cricketer.