"He is the world record holder" - Aakash Chopra expresses shock at Deepak Chahar's exclusion from India's T20 World Cup squad
Aakash Chopra has expressed surprise at Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur's omission from T20 World Cup 2021 India Squad.
The 15-member Indian squad for the mega event comprises only three specialist pacers - Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami. Chahar and Thakur have been named in the reserves for the tournament.
While talking about the Indian squad in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra was flabbergasted about Deepak Chahar's non-selection. He reasoned:
"There is neither Shardul Thakur nor Deepak Chahar - these are two huge exclusions. I have a lot of love for Deepak Chahar but you can see logically. He is the world record holder."
The former India cricketer highlighted that apart from holding the best figures in T20I cricket, Deepak Chahar has performed consistently well in the IPL. He said:
"If you take any match of the IPL over the last two years, he has taken wickets. Despite that his name not being there, I am a little surprised."
Deepak Chahar has snared 42 wickets over the last two-and-a-half seasons of the IPL. He has often given the Chennai Super Kings breakthroughs with the new ball.
Check out who has the Most man of the match in T20 World Cup here.
"You could have picked Deepak Chahar ahead of Shami" - Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra added that Shardul Thakur could have also been in the selectors' scheme of things. He reasoned:
"You could have picked Deepak Chahar ahead of Shami. You could have probably thought about Shardul as well because you wouldn't have won the England T20 series if Shardul had not taken wickets. And his current form is rock-solid."
However, the reputed commentator added that he would have opted for Deepak Chahar ahead of Thakur because of his proficiency with the new ball.
He explained:
"But before him, I would still say Deepak Chahar. He has taken more wickets than Bhuvi with the new ball, even more than Bumrah. I am not saying that he is a better bowler than them but if you want to give someone the new ball, you will want to go with Deepak Chahar among the three."
Deepak Chahar has picked up 20 wickets in the 14 T20Is he has played for Team India. This includes a world record spell of 6/7, where he also became the only Indian to take a T20I hat-trick.