Indian pacer Deepak Chahar joins the list of injured Indian bowlers after the unfortunate injuries to Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja ahead of the T20 World Cup which will happen in Australia from October 26. Reports suggest that Chahar sustained a stiff back during a training session before the first match against South Africa in Lucknow.
The side that played South Africa in the first ODI on Friday, October 6, was without Chahar, with India losing by nine runs in the opening match with the visitors scoring 250 in just 40 overs.
"Deepak Chahar has a stiff back, and not a twisted ankle, because of which he has been ruled out of the last two ODIs against SA. He has moved to NCA in Bangalore and is likely to fly to Australia with Mohd Shami on October 16," a source told Sports Tak on Saturday.
Chahar was not on the final squad but was in line to be drafted in to replace the injured star pace Bumrah, whose absence was confirmed on Monday, October 3.
"So it will be team management's call if they would like to risk Deepak as he is on the T20 World Cup standby list. In any case, if there is a requirement there, it would be a priority," according to PTI sources.
As of now, Jasprit Bumrah's replacement in the T20 World Cup squad is Mohammed Shami, who is returning to match fitness and is expected to fly to Australia within the next three to four days.
"Mohammed Shami, if fit, was always going to be the first replacement as that's the closest Indian team can get in terms of sheer quality. He will be joining sometime next week," the source added.
Mukesh Choudhary, Chetan Sakariya join T20 WC squad as net bowlers
Joining the team as net bowlers are Chennai Super Kings' left-arm seamer Mukesh Choudhary from Maharashtra and Saurashtra's Chetan Sakariya, who has played for Rajasthan Royals and then Delhi Capitals.
It is understood that since most teams have a left-arm seamer in their ranks and India's Arshdeep Singh will need rest between the games, Mukesh and Chetan have accompanied the team for the Perth leg of the tour.
"Mukesh and Chetan flew in with the team yesterday. As of now, they will be with the team for the Perth leg where India is supposed to play a couple of practice games."
As per India's training schedule in Perth, they will have three days of rigorous training for five hours between 11 am to 4 pm on October 8, 9 and 12, while on October 10 and 13, two T20 warm-up games will be held. They will take on rivals Pakistan in their first match of the World Cup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 23.
