New Delhi, September 17: Varun Chakravarthy's injury setback headlines the latest developments in Indian sport, with the leg-spinner ruled out of the Asian
Games squad after suffering a side strain in the first T20I against Afghanistan. Uncapped leg-spinner Vipraj Nigam has been named as his replacement, while Chakravarthy continues to undergo scans to determine the extent of the injury.
As India reshuffles its Asian Games plans, another major selection update comes from the domestic circuit, with Rishabh Pant set to captain the Rest of India side in the 2026 Irani Cup against Jammu & Kashmir. Pant's appointment comes alongside Nitish Kumar Reddy's withdrawal from the Asian Games squad after he was picked for India's upcoming ODI series against the West Indies.
Beyond these selection changes, the sporting calendar is also taking shape across disciplines. The WPL 2027 dates have been announced, India begins their Chess Olympiad campaign in Samarkand, and the Boxing Federation of India has confirmed direct World Championships entry for 2026 Asian Games medallists.
Here is your daily wrap from the world of sports in the Sports Bulletin for September 17.
Varun Chakravarthy Ruled Out of Asian Games Squad
Indian leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy has been ruled out of the upcoming Asian Games after sustaining a side strain during the first T20I against Afghanistan. Uncapped leg-spinner Vipraj Nigam has been named as his replacement in the squad.
While Kuldeep Yadav was also considered, he was selected for India's concurrent ODI series against the West Indies instead. Chakravarthy is currently undergoing scans at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru to determine the extent of his injury.
Rishabh Pant to lead Rest of India Squad in Irani Cup
Rishabh Pant has been named captain of the Rest of India squad for the 2026 Irani Cup against maiden Ranji Trophy champions Jammu & Kashmir. The five-day match takes place from October 1 to 5 at Srinagar's Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium. Sarfaraz Khan will serve as vice-captain, while the 15-member squad features international bowlers Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar alongside domestic performers like Sudip Gharami, Manav Suthar, and backup wicketkeeper Aryan Juyal.
Nitish Kumar Reddy Withdrawn From Asian Games Squad
Indian all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been withdrawn from India's 2026 Asian Games squad after being selected for the upcoming three-match ODI series against the West Indies starting September 27.
The decision is strategic rather than injury-related, as Reddy recently recovered from a quadriceps injury. The selectors chose to bolster the ODI side with a seam-bowling all-rounder while key white-ball players fulfill Asian Games duties. India's Asian Games squad remains at 14 players without a replacement.
WPL Season 5 Dates Announced
The fifth season of the Women's Premier League (WPL 2027) will run from January 14 to February 7, 2027. Ahead of the tournament, the player auction is scheduled to take place in Kochi on October 28, 2026, offering franchises sufficient time to finalize squad retentions and strategies.
Across their four previous seasons, Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have each claimed titles, while four-time finalists Delhi Capitals continue seeking their maiden championship.
Chess Olympiad begins in Samarkand
Defending their double-gold win from 2024, India enters the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, with strong Open and Women's squads. Led by top-rated R Praggnanandhaa alongside Arjun Erigaisi, Nihal Sarin, World Champion D Gukesh, and Vidit Gujrathi, the Open team features four 2700+ rated grandmasters. The Women's team combines experienced star Koneru Humpy with recent champions Divya Deshmukh and R Vaishali. Both teams face tough opposition from powerhouses like the United States, Uzbekistan, and China.
Asiad Boxing Medalists Earn Direct WC Entry
The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) announced that 2026 Asian Games medallists will receive direct entry to the 2027 World Boxing Championships in Kazakhstan. Part of a four-stage pathway toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, this policy selects Asian Games medallists as main entries in their weight classes, with 10th Elite National Championship winners serving as reserves. The World Championships will act as the primary Olympic qualification event, followed by continental and global qualifiers in 2028 to maximize India's Olympic quotas.
