Mumbai Indians pacer Deepak Chahar joined the Indian training camp ahead of Day 1 of the Oval Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy to help the Indian batters during their net sessions, as India has been hit by injuries and is missing key players. Chahar’s presence has boosted the team’s morale.
Deepak Chahar Aids Batters Ahead of Fifth Tests
Deepak Chahar was spotted in India’s unofficial training kit, and this is not the first time he has been with the Indian team. He was also present during the Lord’s Tests, helping batters train in the swing-friendly conditions. However, he was not included in the official squad and was there unofficially to assist the batters.
Gautam Gambhir wanted Deepak Chahar because of his control and ability to swing and seam the ball, which could help the batters prepare according to their strengths in English conditions.
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Bumrah Rested, Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh in Contention
India’s injury list has grown, with Jasprit Bumrah being the latest player to be rested following an emergency decision by the BCCI medical team to protect his long-term career.
This Test match could see the potential return of a fully fit Akash Deep, who suffered a hip injury during the 3rd Test and missed the 4th Test; he is expected to fill in for Bumrah. Meanwhile, left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh, who is yet to make his debut and had a minor cut on his bowling arm, is now fully fit and could also join the squad.
Additionally, Dhruv Jurel is expected to replace Rishabh Pant, who suffered an ankle injury in the 4th Test while attempting a reverse sweep off Chris Woakes’ full-toss delivery. Pant has been advised to take at least 4–6 weeks to recover.
India is currently trailing 2-1 in the series. The contest remains open: India can level the series with a win in this match, or England can clinch the series with a victory. Stay tuned for more updates on the England vs India 5th Test.
