Will Deepak Chahar play 5th Test at The Oval? MI pacer spotted in India training session

Mayank Bande

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Will Deepak Chahar play 5th Test at The Oval? MI pacer spotted in India training session image

India and England will lock horns for the fifth Test of the highly competitive Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at the Oval from July 31.

With the series on the line, the Indian team is expected to make a few changes in the bowling line-up as Jasprit Bumrah is highly likely to miss the series finale.

As India gears up for the next Test at the Oval, swing bowler and handy batter Deepak Chahar was spotted with the Indian camp, sparking speculation about his inclusion to the squad.

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India has consistently preferred a pace-bowling all-rounder at number 7 or 8 in this series. However, with Nitish Reddy ruled out, Shardul Thakur under-utilized, and Anshul Kamboj enduring a lacklustre debut, the team is short of options for the role.

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With a spot open at number 8, TSN explores the chances of Deepak Chahar's inclusion to the side for the fifth Test.

Will Deepak Chahar play the Oval Test?; Pace-bowler spotted with India ahead of the fifth Test:

Despite Bumrah's likely absence from the upcoming game, the bowler is expected to make way for Arshdeep Singh, who could make his debut in London.

When it comes to the uncertainty regarding Thakur's and Kamboj's spots in the team, the duo could be seen sitting out for the already available options in the squad.

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Akash Deep is returning from the injury he sustained at the Lord's, while Kuldeep Yadav is also in the running to feature in the final game of the series.

There is no official word about Chahar's inclusion in the squad yet. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that the 32-year-old will be added to the playing XI at the last minute as a wildcard.

High chances are that Chahar was with the team to pay a friendly visit or just help the team out during their net sessions. He was also previously spotted in the Indian nets ahead of the Lord's Test in London.

Notably, Chahar has not played for India since December 2023 and is yet to make his Test debut.

The all-rounder last featured in a first-class match in November 2024 during Rajasthan's Ranji Trophy match against Uttarakhand.

Mayank Bande

Mayank Bande has been a content producer at The Sporting News since 2023 and has extensive experience in cricket writing. His work has previously appeared on platforms like OneCricket and Last Word on Sports. Beyond cricket, Mayank closely follows football as an FC Barcelona supporter, along with tennis and Olympic sports. Despite holding a degree in Business Administration, he chose to pursue a career in sports, bringing sharp analysis to his writing as someone who once played cricket.