A surprise visitor gave Team India an unexpected lift during their practice session at The Oval, just days before the crucial fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series.
Deepak Chahar Steps In to Support Gill & Co.
With several frontline pacers sidelined due to injuries, India’s training camp received a timely boost as pace-bowling allrounder Deepak Chahar joined the squad for net sessions on Wednesday. Though he hasn’t played a Test match for India yet, Chahar rolled in some valuable overs during practice, helping the batters prepare for the challenges of England’s seam attack.
This isn’t Chahar’s first quiet contribution in the series. During the third Test at Lord’s, he had informally helped out the team while not officially part of the squad, donning non-team training gear and bowling extended spells to top-order batters.
No Official Call-Up, But a Crucial Presence
Despite not being officially included in the Test squad, Chahar’s involvement couldn’t have come at a better time. With Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh missing the fourth Test due to injuries, and Jasprit Bumrah likely to be rested for the final match due to a minor knee issue, India’s pace battery is running thin.
On the wicketkeeping front, Rishabh Pant has been ruled out due to a toe fracture, forcing Dhruv Jurel to step in. Narayan Jagadeesan has been added as batting cover, but the bowling group remains stretched. Chahar’s ability to swing the ball and maintain control makes him a valuable asset in simulating match scenarios—especially under English conditions.
India Gears Up for Must-Win Test
Trailing 2-1 in the five-match series with one game drawn, India face a must-win situation at The Oval to avoid a series defeat. Under the leadership of Shubman Gill, the team showed grit in the previous Test in Manchester, where they batted through five sessions to salvage a draw.
The build-up to the final clash hasn’t been short of drama either. Head coach Gautam Gambhir was seen in a heated exchange with Oval curator Lee Fortis, reportedly over pitch preparation—adding more edge to an already high-stakes Test match.
With injuries piling up and pressure mounting, Chahar’s unofficial presence could be the quiet reinforcement India didn’t know they needed.
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