Former India cricketer who is eventually a commentatorx Sanjay Manjrekar reckons India Zimbabwe ODI series between India and Zimbabwe as a good platform to test Deepak Chahar. The later’s performance will open the probable doors to the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup.
Chahar presently has the best T20I figures for India, 6/7. However, he will come back in the team against Zimbabwe for the three match series . Henceforth, Chahar will feature in the blues after a huge gap of nearly six months.
Manjrekar gave an exclusive interview to the new show ‘SPORTS OVER THE TOP’ on SPORTS18. There he said,
“I think they’re testing waters with Deepak Chahar more because of his fitness and if he has a sensational 50-overs series which is likely to happen because this guy over the years when you see him in T20 international cricket. I mean he’s got some phenomenal numbers. If you remember in T20 international cricket. So, he is your Bhuvneshwar Kumar of today. The younger version of Bhuvneshwar Kumar who can swing the ball both ways, to begin with. Maybe not as consistent to bowl in the death but that’s the aspect of bowling that’s getting better and better. So, the only thing that will prevent Deepak Chahar from getting into that T20 World Cup squad of the playing 11 is very similar to Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar has looked really good. So, they might look for other kinds of seam bowlers but Deepak Chahar is somebody they should keep in mind and he’s got to do something sensational to put his hand up.”
However, Chahar rang the bell with a positive note. He bagged three scalps in the first ODI at Harare. Chahar bagged openers Innocent Kaia and Tadiwanashe Marumani. He then took Wesley Madhevere’wicket in his first spell of 7 overs.
Manjrekar trusts Gill and Dhawan duo at the top
However, a lot of discussions are going on regarding Team India’s opening duo. Nonetheless, Manjrekar trusts Shubman Gill and Shikhar Dhawan with that responsibility.
Moreover, Manjrekar shared his views regarding the opening duo for the coming T-20 WC. He said,
“Shikhar Dhawan will open. Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad are the other guys who will be pushing KL Rahul and you know the team management as options. So, it will be about somebody making a personal sacrifice from KL Rahul’s standpoint thinking from only his angle. We’ve seen over the years that when he opens the innings, he gets a big one when he backs down the order at 5 or 6 obviously he doesn’t get that opportunity. But then where do you back Shubman Gill? Shubman Gill can bat at number 3. I think Shubman Gill is also somebody that India can start looking as a batter down the order in Test cricket. So, all these things are being tackled and we’ve seen them right through our coverage of Indian cricket. These are the talking points for us. Then there are so many options, so many permutations and combinations that have worked for India. And you know India have managed to win despite making all kinds of changes.”
Manjrekar further added,
“So, there’s Ruturaj Gaikwad, there’s Shubman Gill, there’s Shikhar Dhawan, there’s KL Rahul, and wild cards such as Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan opening the innings. So, take your pick but from KL Rahul’s standpoint because he wants to be one of the integral members of the T20 World Cup, batting at the top of the order gets the time to get a feel of matches.”
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