T20 World Cup 2022: Another setback for India, as Deepak Chahar drops out for the ODI series

Deepak Chahar was in contention to replace Jasprit Bumrah, given his performances after making a comeback were worth considering. He was thus promptly sent to National Cricket Academy in Bangalore. The medical team will assess the extent of the seriousness of his injury and give a verdict on whether he could join team India in Australia or not. 

The BCCI source said, “We will soon get an update on Chahar. He had back pain on eve of the game and was not comfortable at all. The team management decided to send him to NCA where further scans will be conducted. Primarily, it looks like a back and hip injury.” 

The medium pacer caught a back injury early this year, forcing the bowler to remain out of action during the complete IPL and miss four months of cricket. And now this untimely injury made him miss the travel with the Indian team to Perth. 

India has already lost the services of its two most valuable assets, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja. They cannot afford to lose another fast bowler due to an injury. 

Could this be a World Cup blow for the pacer?

The injury to Deepak Chahar could not have come at the worst time, as Jasprit Bumrah’s replacement was to be named on October 9. 

Though Mohammed Shami was the front-runner in the race to replace Jasprit Bumrah due to his experience in Australian pitches, Deepak Chahar, too, stood a chance as he was regular in the T20I series post-recovery. He had made a strong case in the series against South Africa with his stunning swing bowling. He swung the ball with splendid control, highlighted by a vicious inswinger. 

Comparing him to Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harbhajan Singh said, “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.”

He could dig movement even on the pitches that did not have much to offer naturally. His bowling was terrific in the powerplay and decently well in death overs to make him a strong contender. 

Deepak Chahar is the only bowler who can get the ball to swing up-front and both ways and looks like getting two to three wickets in the powerplay,” said Harbhajan Singh

Deepak Chahar also adds utility with the bat, which is not valid with Mohammed Shami. Also, Mohammed Shami played his last international game on July 22 in an ODI against England and his final T20I against Namibia in the previous edition of the World Cup. 

A comeback opportunity for Washington Sundar after eight months

As Deepak Chahar has been ruled out of the ODI series and sent to the NCA for immediate rehab, India has recalled Washington Sundar for the remaining ODI series against South Africa. 

Washington Sundar will return to the ODI side for the first time since February, as injuries kept him far from opportunities in international games. Having picked a finger injury, he got ruled out of build-up plans for the T20 World Cup 2022 and IPL 2022. And when post recovery was set to return via series against Zimbabwe, a shoulder injury in Royals London Cup kept him away. 

Washington Sundar brings in a fantastic defensive spin option and a handy middle-order batting option, which is needed for team India in the current scenario.