'Rahul Dravid likes him as a package' - Aakash Chopra justifies Deepak Chahar's selection for South Africa ODIs

Former India opener Aakash Chopra feels that head coach Rahul Dravid likes Deepak Chahar as a “package” and for his all-round abilities. Chahar is one of the 18 players named by the BCCI in the squad for the upcoming South Africa ODI series, which starts on January 19.

Chahar was last active during the home T20I series against New Zealand, where he did not have the best of outings in the first two games in Jaipur and Ranchi, returning with identical figures of 1/42, before making a strong comeback in Kolkata, where he struck an 8-ball 21 and recorded figures of 1/26.

Alongside Chahar, the ODI squad also includes senior pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar and youngsters Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, whereas three spinners in Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravichandran Ashwin and Washington Sundar have been named.

“Jasprit Bumrah as vice-captain, Bhuvnehswar Kumar, Deepak Chahar – Bhuvi has been bowling well. He bowled well in the last two T20Is [against New Zealand] we saw. Deepak Chahar was slightly expensive there but he has been kept, which is right. Rahul Dravid likes him as a package,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

“Mohammed Shami is not there, he has been rested. Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur and Mohammed Siraj – there is no big name who has been missed,” he added.

Ravichandran Ashwin’s comeback is interesting: Aakash Chopra

Chopra further went on to add that Ravichandran Ashwin’s return is an interesting choice made by the selectors. Ashwin, who recently made his white-ball comeback after being named in India’s T20 World Cup squad, will be playing the 50-over format for the first time since 2017.

“Ravichandran Ashwin is back. That’s an interesting one because what all options did you have – you had Rahul Chahar as an option, whom you played in the World Cup but after that, he has been kept in cold storage. They haven’t even said if he is fit or not.”

He further expressed surprise on the fact that Varun Chakravarthy is not even a part of the discussions anymore while highlighting that Ravindra Jadeja’s absence due to injury could be the possible reason why such a combination was chosen.

“Washington Sundar is also back. One leg-spinner, two finger spinners, there is no Varun Chakravarthy, not even in the conversation. Ravindra Jadeja’s availability might not have been there because of which this is the composition.”