IPL 2021: Shardul Thakur is ahead of Deepak Chahar in the T20 World Cup race – Aakash Chopra

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra believes Shardul Thakur is ahead of Deepak Chahar in the T20 World Cup race. Both Thakur and Chahar are part of the stand-by players in the Indian squad.

Thakur has been in sublime form in the recent past and he has delivered the goods for India’s Test team as well as Chennai Super Kings.

Thakur has scalped 15 wickets in the 13 matches of the ongoing season for the three-time champions. Furthermore, Thakur can also contribute with the bat while batting down the order as he showed in the Test series against Australia and recently against England.

On the other hand, Deepak Chahar has also done a good job for CSK and he has delivered for the MS Dhoni-led team in the powerplay overs. Chahar can get the ball to swing both ways and he has scalped 12 wickets in as many games and has bowled with an economy rate of 8.02 in the ongoing season.

Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya, India’s seam bowling all-rounder, hasn’t bowled in the second phase of IPL 2021 for Mumbai Indians, as he has not yet reached his bowling fitness.

Speaking on his YouTube Channel, Aakash Chopra said, “Hardik Pandya hasn’t bowled yet. If he doesn’t bowl or bowl very limitedly then your planning of three fast-bowlers and Hardik Pandy as a seam option will have to change. You’ll have to pick another fast bowler. I feel Shardul Thakur is ahead of Deepak Chahar in this race. The selectors might think about Shardul Thakur because he can bat and his form with the ball has been absolutely sensational. Before the start of the season I said Deepak Chahar had to be the guy but now Shardul Thakur has bowled much better.”

Furthermore, Bhuvneshwar Kumar isn’t in the best of forms in the recent past. Thus, the Indian selectors could think of including Shardul Thakur in the 15-man squad. India has picked five spinners in their World Cup squad and the former KKR opener feels one spinner will have to make way for Thakur.

“One spinner will have to miss out because how else will you fit into another fast bowler in the 15? Who will go out? It’s going to be a tough one, really, really tough one.”

India will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 24.