Batted legend Sunil Gavaskar has called for pacer Deepak Chahar’s inclusion in the Indian squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia.
Chahar made his return to the national side last month on the ODI tour of Zimbabwe after being out of action for almost 8 months due to multiple injuries. He played two of India's three ODIs, claiming five wickets, including 3/27 in his comeback match at Harare.
Chahar was named as one of the standbys in the squad for the Asia Cup 2022 and was drafted into the side once fast bowler Avesh Khan got ruled out of the tournament due to fever. He featured in India’s last Super-4 fixture against Afghanistan and returned with the figures of 0/28 in his four overs.
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"I would say Deepak Chahar. He is the one I would certainly look at because it will be Australia and there will be extra bounce. And with the kind of movement that he generates with the new ball."
"He is somebody who's got to factor in if? you know we've always picked about 4-5 bowlers for the Australia or South Africa tour and one if them gets wasted. But in a fast-paced tournament like the T20 I think to go with Deepak Chahar would be beneficial for the Indian team," said Gavaskar on India Today.
Further endorsing Chahar's selection in India's squad for the T20 World Cup 2022, veteran batter Robin Uthappa said he sees the Rajasthan pacer as well as young left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh completing the pace attack alongside Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel.
"He (Bhuvneshwar) will bowl three in the top six and then one in the middle or towards the death. But I feel so that we will have Harshal and Bumrah predominantly bowling in the death. And he will play maybe to the tail end or just before the death overs he will bowl that one over or in case you want a wicket in the middle overs."
"So, I think that's how they're going to use him. I think they will go with five fast bowlers anyways and I think Arshdeep and Deepak Chahar will be the other two outside of Bumrah, Bhuvi and Harshal. And Hardik plays as the sixth fast bowler," said Uthappa on ESPNCricinfo's T20 Timeout show.
India will open their T20 World Cup 2022 campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan at Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 23.
