Deepak Chahar ruled out of T20 World Cup; Shardul Thakur replaces him in the reserves

Shardul Thakur appears set to make India's T20 World Cup reserves as a like-for-like replacement for Deepak Chahar. Back injury could rule out Deepak Chahar from India's T20 World Cup 2022 reserve list. Meanwhile, it's pave way for Shardul Thakur as his replacement, reported Sports Tak. 

Also Read: Mohammad Shami clears fitness Test in NCA, set to replace Jasprit Bumrah

Deepak was earlier ruled out of India's three-match ODI series against South Africa with the same. The pacer skipped the first game. He was sidelined for the remaining two one-dayers in Ranchi and Delhi after BCCI confirmed he had picked up "stiffness" in his back after the third T20I against the Proteas in Indore on October 4.

He will now undergo rehab at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). The team management and selectors have reportedly decided to leave him out of the immediate reserve options for the T20 World Cup in Australia. 

Deepak Chahar was named on the list alongside Shreyas Iyer, Ravi Bishnoi, and Mohammad Shami. For the moment, Shami too is at the NCA to go through a recovery program after giving a positive Covid-19 test prior to the home T20Is versus Australia late last month. 

Shami is one of the options in line to replace the injured Jasprit Bumrah in the main T20 World Cup squad alongside Mohammed Siraj. Siraj has displayed brilliant form with the new ball and at the death, particularly in ODIs, for India this year.

However, the team management is awaiting further clarity on Shami before deciding who the 15th member of their squad will be. As per reports, Shami is the frontrunner to replace Bumrah at this stage. He will be flying to Australia on Thursday (October 13) along with Siraj and Thakur. 

Deepak Chahar's injury gives Thakur a backdoor entry

Read Also: Most Wickets in T20 World Cup history

Deepak Chahar's injury has given Thakur another unexpected opportunity to be with an Indian team set to play in the T20 World Cup. The pacer was part of the tournament in last year's edition in UAE. However, he was dropped after poor performances in India's disastrous Super 12 exit. But Deepak's back issue has now left him one other injury away from making the main squad in Australia. 

Thakur has played 25 T20Is for India so far. He has taken 33 wickets at 9.25 and scored his runs down the order at a strike rate of 181.57.