India's squad for the upcoming tournament in Australia has been hit by another injury blow. Deepak Chahar, who was waiting in the wings as a standby player, is officially out. He was widely expected to be the primary replacement for Jasprit Bumrah, but his recovery from a back injury has stalled. This issue was evident during the recent ODI series against South Africa, where back stiffness kept him off the field entirely.
The Indian cricket team has been rocked by another injury as Deepak Chahar, who was among the stand-by players, has been ruled out of the marquee event in Australia. India’s wicket-taking bowler Chahar was expected to make the playing XI in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah but now he has been ruled out since his back injury will take more time to heal. Chahar did not play a single game in the recently concluded ODI series against South Africa due to back stiffness.
The loss of Chahar is particularly worrying for the Indian camp given his versatility in swinging the ball. A source from the BCCI confirmed that the back problem has flared up again, though they clarified that his ankle is not an issue. To shore up the bowling attack, the board has decided to call up three additional fast bowlers.
Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Shardul Thakur are all heading to Australia to join the team. The management has until October 15 to finalize a permanent replacement for Bumrah, allowing them time to assess which of these three is most fit and in form. Shami is currently a favorite due to his track record and pace, but Siraj is also a strong candidate following his dominant performance in the ODIs against South Africa.
Siraj's standout form, including a five-wicket haul and the Player of the Series award, puts him in the spotlight. Meanwhile, Shardul Thakur offers valuable all-round capabilities, providing a safety net for Hardik Pandya, although he is primarily expected to take Chahar's place on the standby list. Indian supporters can only hope that the squad remains healthy and injury-free for the rest of the competition.