India vs South Africa 2023: Deepak Chahar Unlikely To Play Series, Yet To Join Team - Report

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Deepak Chahar is unlikely to play in the India vs South Africa away series and is out of the opening T20I match in Durban on Sunday (December 11), reported PTI. The 31-year-old Indian seamer is yet to join the team due to personal reasons.

It is understood that Deepak Chahar is currently at home as a close family member has not been keeping well and he urgently needed a break from the sport. Chahar missed the fifth and final T20I match of India vs Australia in Bengaluru as well.

The news agency further reported that Deepak Chahar had to rush back home after being intimated about a family member's illness. No further details were revealed on the matter as it concerns the privacy of the cricketer.

"Deepak hasn't yet joined the team in Durban as a close family member needed urgent hospitalisation. He had taken permission for a break as he needed to attend to his family members. He may or may not join the squad depending on his family member's health in the coming days," a senior BCCI official told PTI on condition of anonymity.

It remains to be seen who will replace Deepak Chahar in the T20I squad for the three-match series. Apart from him, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj and Mukesh Kumar are the other pacers in the 15-man squad. Avesh Khan, who is part of the ODI squad, may emerge as the replacement.

Meanwhile, the BCCI brass is aware Chahar might not be feeling well until the family member is fully recovered, so they will be understanding if he chooses not to join the team at this time.

Deepak Chahar, who boasts best figures of 6/7 in T20 International, made his return to international cricket after a prolonged injury last year and his absence did affect the T20 squad's balance in the past two years.

However, the other two members of the T20 squad, Shubman Gill and vice-captain Ravindra Jadeja, who were holidaying abroad after the World Cup final have directly linked up with the squad in Durban and have attended practice sessions.