The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced Deepak Chahar as Mukesh Kumar’s replacement for the remainder of the games in the five-T20I series against Australia. Fast bowler Mukesh left the T20I series midway to get married.
“Fast bowler Mukesh Kumar made a request to BCCI to be released from India’s squad ahead of the third T20I against Australia in Guwahati. Mukesh is getting married and has been granted leave for the duration of his wedding festivities,” BCCI said in a statement.
Chahar is not a part of India's playing XI for the third T20I at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati. He will join the squad for the fourth T20I which will be played at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur on December 1.
Chahar was one of the notable ommissions when a second-string T20I squad was announced for the home series after India's heartbreaking defeat to Australia in the ODI World Cup 2023 final.
He made his last T20I appearance in October 2022 against South Africa where he conceded 48 runs and picked up one wicket from his full quota of four overs in a high-scoring encounter at Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore.
Chahar was out of action as he picked up a hamstring injury during Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. He was ruled out of the tournament and started his rehabilitation which was completed before World Cup 2023.
“One change for us - Avesh replaces Mukesh, who is playing his biggest game, he's getting married and we wish him all the best,” Suryakumar said at the coin toss on November 28.
In the first game of the T20I series in Visakhapatnam, Mukesh was economical in a high-scoring encounter. He remained wicketless but conceded 29 runs from four overs including a five-run last over. In the second T20I, he was expensive as he conceded 46 runs from four overs. However, he picked up the wicket of Marcus Stoinis who scored 45 runs from 25 balls.
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