Greg Chappell had once said Deepak Chahar isn't made for cricket

Chahar is included in Indian squad for T20I series against England.

Deepak Chahar | GETTYDeepak Chahar got his maiden call for the Indian team after Jasprit Bumrah suffered an injury. He had grabbed everyone's eyeballs after a good outing for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2018.

An interesting incident has popped up on social media after Chahar got picked for team India. In 2008, Chahar was rejected by the Rajasthan Cricket Association Academy director Greg Chappell, who thought he didn't have in him to play competitive cricket. After two years, the young pacer Chahar made his Ranji Trophy debut and took 8 for 10 to against Hyderabad.

Deepak, then 18, made headlines with his performance in Ranji Trophy 2010-11 season. Hyderabad was bowled out for 21 in their first innings, the lowest ever in Ranji Trophy cricket.

During a chat with Cricbuzz back in 2015, Chahar said, "He didn't select me in the final 50 for the state, so I went and asked him the reason. I was the fittest among all, and he put a lot of emphasis on fitness. Several unfit guys were sent home and since I was the fittest I wanted to know why I wasn't selected, and then he told me that he didn't think I could play cricket at a higher level. I felt very bad. That was the only day in my whole career when I felt like crying. I held my tears back but I felt very bad.

"With the benefit of hindsight, I think it was good that I was sent back home because thereafter I worked really hard and within two years I was playing the Ranji Trophy for Rajasthan. You can say that Greg Chappell's comments brought out the best in me. I changed my fitness regime, worked on my bowling action, increased my pace and now my fastest ball is around 140 kph."

Chahar did well to answer Chappell with his performance. He is now in team India and it would be interesting if he goes on to play against Australia and shines there.

Meanwhile, India's T20I series against England will begin on July 3.

 
 

By Sihyeu Singh - 02 Jul, 2018

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