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Xtra Time Web Desk: Team India suffered a slight hiccup ahead of the T20I series against England starting from Friday, March 12,2021. Young fast bowling sensation T Natarajan is yet to join the squad in Ahmedabad due to an apparent ‘shoulder injury’ While Tamil Nadu mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy has once again failed a fitness test at the National Cricket Academy. The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR0 spinner has earlier missed the tour to Australia on fitness grounds.

Mumbai Indians off spinner Rahul Chahar has been added to the squad as a cover for Chakravarthy. In case of Natarajan, the NCA medical staff is trying to get him fit or at least the later part of the series.

"Varun Chakravarthy was selected because he recovered from his shoulder injury that ruled him out of the Australia series. He did his rehab at the NCA and started throwing normally.

"However, he has failed to clear the YoYo test mark stipulated for a 2km run at least twice," a senior BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

The question now being asked is why did the Chetan Sharma led committee select such a player, who, after the month of October, hasn't played even one competitive game for his state Tamil Nadu.

"We can understand he was doing his rehab during Mushtaq Ali (T20 Championship). But then again, he didn't play a single Vijay Hazare Trophy game. How do you assess his match fitness based on games that he played five months back? I guess Varun Chakravarthy is a lesson for selectors," said the source.

"If a player is generally not maintaining the standards set by this Indian team, his bowling alone can't be a criteria for selection."