Team India fast bowler Deepak Chahar has picked veteran batter, Shikhar Dhawan, as the captain when a second-string squad travels to Sri Lanka for a limited-overs series. A lot has been spoken around who will lead the side in the absence of Virat Kohli, who will be busy leading the side in the five-match Test series against England.
The Men in Blues will play three ODIs and three T20Is during their tour of Sri Lanka in July. National Cricket Academy chief and former India cricketer Rahul Dravid is set to travel with the team as head coach, in the absence of Ravi Shastri, who will be in England at that time with the Test team.
Shikhar Dhawan can be a good captain – Deepak Chahar
The likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar Shreyas Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Deepak Chahar, Krunal Pandya, Prithvi Shaw, and T Natarajan, among others, could all be on the flight to Sri Lanka. However, it remains to be seen who leads the side in the absence of Virat Kohli. Deepak Chahar, who has represented India in three ODIs and 13 T20Is feels Shikhar Dhawan can be a potential candidate.
“Shikhar bhai will be a good choice (for captain). He has been playing for a long time and has a lot of experience. For me, a senior person should become a captain. Because players see that player as a senior and respect him and obey him with honesty. Players should respect their captain. He (Dhawan) will be a good choice,” Chahar told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.
Coming to his own performance, Deepak Chahar is confident to put up a good show in Sri Lanka. The pacer looked in rhythm during IPL 2021 plying his trade for Chennai Super Kings and will hope to keep up the good run.
“I am all set for the Sri Lanka tour. I bowled well in the IPL. I was in good touch. I am excited to play in Sri Lanka. In my opinion, experience gives you a lot of confidence. I have experience now and I am confident of a good showing in Sri Lanka. I am sure we will emerge victorious against Sri Lanka. Our second-string team is looking as strong as the main team. We have a lot of options,” Chahar further said.
