India’s roster for the final two games of the five-match Twenty20 International series against Australia now includes Deepak Chahar. In the meantime, Mukesh Kumar was freed on Tuesday ahead of the third game in Guwahati due to his marriage. However, he will also be a part of the team for the last two games.
Chahar, who has struggled with injuries recently, didn’t play for India in an ODI till December 2022. He just helped Rajasthan win the Syed Mushtaq Ali (T20) Trophy. There, he amassed ten wickets at an economy of 7.38 in five games. He had a strike rate of 171.79 while using the bat, scoring 67 runs off of 39 balls.
In the upcoming 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy, he has also had a strong start. He has already amassed 6 for 41 against Gujarat and smashed an undefeated 66 off 56 balls against Arunachal Pradesh in two of the tournament’s matches.
In the run-up to the T20 World Cup in June, Chahar’s return is welcome news, considering none of India’s first-choice fast bowlers are effective hitters. India has six more Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) and the Indian Premier League after the current Australia series, and then the World Cup will be held in the USA and the West Indies.
Mukesh performed admirably in the two games he played in the series. He let up just 29 runs in his four overs in the opening Twenty20 International in Visakhapatnam, despite Australia scoring 208 for 3. He got rid of a scary-looking Marcus Stoinis in Thiruvananthapuram.
The T20I regulars for both Australia and India have been rested for this series, which began just four days after the ODI World Cup. India is now 2-0 up in the series.
