Deepak Chahar is a better-skilled bowler compared to Bhuvneshwar Kumar: Harbhajan Singh

Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh heaped praises on Deepak Chahar, and believes that Chahar is a more capable player than the veteran Bhuvneshwar Kumar at the moment. Chahar was added to India’s T20 World Cup squad as a standby player, but with Jasprit Bumrah being ruled out of the marquee event, the pacer has a chance of making a cut to the final squad.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s performance in the recent outings in the T20Is has not been up to the mark, as he has gone on to concede plenty of runs in the death overs, which remains a major concern for team India right now. Chahar, on the other hand, has put up some remarkable performances ever since his return to international cricket post his injury.

“Deepak Chahar is the only bowler who can get the ball to swing up-front and both ways and looks like getting 2-3 wickets in Powerplay. His inswinger is as lethal as his outswing and he can even get to move in non-conducive conditions. At this stage, where we stand today, Deepak is a better-skilled bowler in the present scenario compared to Bhuvneshwar. Bhuvi has loads of experience and he will pull off games. 8-10 runs in the 19th over don’t hurt but the moment it is 15 and above, the match slips away. So, Deepak would be my choice,” Harbhajan Singh was quoted as saying by India Today.

Arshdeep Singh is still very raw: Harbhajan Singh

While speaking of Arshdeep Singh, Harbhajan added that the left-arm pacer is still relatively inexperienced and that it would be unjust to always put pressure on him to carry out the team's plans and strategies. Arshdeep Singh, nevertheless, has been really impressive both in powerplays and the death overs and is currently with the main squad for the T20 World Cup in Australia.

“Look, Arsh is a fine talent and one for the future. Also if you are left-arm seamer, you will create those angles that can trouble batters. But he does need some assistance from the track where he can pitch it up and the ball does a bit off the track. He is still very raw and needs to bowl a lot in various pressure situations before he becomes battle-hardened. Just to expect that he will be able to execute each of the six balls as per plans under pressure would be being unfair to a youngster. But he has the temperament and skills but would need a seasoned bowler around him."