Indian pacer Deepak Chahar revealed that he needs another four to five weeks to attain match fitness, which means he would be match fit ahead of Team India's tour of West Indies in July-August or the Asia Cup that follows in September probably.
Chahar has already missed a lot of cricket after sustaining a hamstring injury during the home series against the West Indies earlier this year. He missed the entire IPL 2022 and the South Africa T20s series, and now he will miss Ireland and England tours.
Chahar is currently doing his rehabilitation at NCA and said that he needs another four to five weeks to be able to take the field. However, the seamer will first play some club cricket to check his fitness.
Deepak Chahar told PTI after his rehab session at NCA in Bengaluru: “I am bowling four to five overs at one go as per my rehab programme right now. My recovery is going pretty well and I think it will take another four to five weeks for me to get match fit.”
He added, “It's a step-by-step process as far as recovery is concerned. I don't think I will be fit for the England T20Is. Once I am match fit, I will need to play some club-level games to check my fitness.”
On being asked whether he will be fit for the tour of the West Indies? The swing bowler replied by saying: “I can't say that but I will definitely try and get fit by then. Let's see.”
Meanwhile, the Indian all-rounder, Washington Sundar, is set to fly to England to play for Lancashire to find his rhythm before returning to the national fold. He is also recovering from a hand injury and rehabbing at NCA.
A BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity: “Washington is nearing full fitness and he needs a lot of game time, which he will get only in red-ball cricket. He is going to play for Lancashire and this exposure will do him a world of good.”
(With PTI Inputs)
