Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh said that he would prefer Deepak Chahar over Bhuvneshwar Kumar when it came to skills with the ball in the present scenario. While Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been named in India’s T20 World Cup 2022 squad, Chahar is on the standby list.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has come under criticism thanks to his leaking runs in death overs during the Asia Cup 2022 and then against Australia in the T20I series at home. Deepak Chahar, meanwhile, impressed in the recent South Africa T20Is with the ball thanks to his ability to swing and seam the ball.
Speaking to PTI, Harbhajan said that Chahar is the only bowler at the moment who can get swing up-front and in both ways. He went on to say that the 30-year-old is currently the better-skilled bowler as compared to Kumar.
“Deepak Chahar is the only bowler who can get the ball to swing up-front and both ways and looks like getting 2-3 wickets in Powerplay. His inswinger is as lethal as his outswing and he can even get to move in non-conducive conditions. At this stage, where we stand today, Deepak is a better-skilled bowler in the present scenario compared to Bhuvneshwar.
Bhuvi has loads of experience and he will pull off games but 8-10 runs in 19th over doesn’t hurt but moment it is 15 and above, the match slips away. So Deepak would be my choice,” Harbhajan Singh told PTI.
Harbhajan also commented on Arshdeep Singh and said that the left-arm pacer is still very raw and learning things and it would be prejudicial to ask him to perform plans under pressure all the time.
Harbhajan further said: “Look, Arsh is a fine talent and one for the future. Also if you are left-arm seamer, you will create those angles that can trouble batters. But he does need some assistance from the track where he can pitch it up and the ball does a bit off the track.
He is still very raw and needs to bowl a lot in various pressure situations before he becomes battle-hardened. Just to expect that he will be able to execute each of the six balls as per plans under pressure would be being unfair to a youngster. But he has the temperament and skills but would need a seasoned bowler around him."
