The T20 World Cup is just a few days away now but Team India is yet to name their 15th player. Fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, and Shardul Thakur will join the Indian cricket team in Australia as Deepak Chahar has been ruled out of the upcoming T20 World Cup due to a back injury. Deepak Chahar was among the stand-by players for the Indian squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022. He was expected to make it to the main squad in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who was also ruled out because of a back injury.
“Deepak will take some time to get fit. His back issue has flared up again. His ankle is fine and there wasn’t any problem there. So BCCI is sending three reinforcements. Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur,” a BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
It is understood that since the team has time till October 15 to announce Jasprit Bumrah’s replacement and the team management has the time to check out the form and fitness of all the three pacers joining the Indian squad in Australia.
Their timely arrival in Australia will also give them time enough to adjust to the conditions Down Under. Mohammed Shami with his experience leads the race but Siraj has been impressive with his form. He recently emerged as the Player of the Series in the recently-concluded ODI series against South Africa. He picked five wickets, including three in the Ranchi ODI, in three games. On the other hand, Shardul Thakur will his all-around abilities can provide cover to Hardik Pandya. Ravi Bishnoi and Shreyas Iyer are unlikely to travel for the time being. Bishnoi will travel in case there is any injury to Yuzvendra Chahal.
Meanwhile, filling the shoes of Jasprit Bumrah is a tough task, considering his wicket-taking talent and skills. Jasprit Bumrah’s absence was the second big blow the Indian side suffered ahead of the T20 World Cup 2022.
The Indian cricket team has received a series of jolts in the last one month before the World Cup. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was first to be ruled out due to a knee injury. A few weeks before flying to Australia, the team management received the biggest blow as Bumrah suffered a back injury Later, Deepak Chahar injured his back and hip and was rushed to National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.
Here’s the list of Indian players who got injured ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022:
Jasprit Bumrah (ruled out with back injury): No replacement yet
Ravindra Jadeja (ruled out with knee injury): Replaced by Axar Patel.
Deepak Chahar (Back strain): Chahar was a standby player and is currently at NCA. Replaced by Shardul Thakur as the stand-by player.
India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh.
Standby Players: Mohammad Shami, Shreyas Iyer, Ravi Bishnoi, Shardul Thakur.
