India’s Deepak Chahar was an unexpected hero with the bat in the second ODI against Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Chahar was sent to bat ahead of the more accomplished Bhuvneshwar Kumar after India lost their top six wickets for just 160 runs while chasing 276. In the end, both Chahar and Bhuvi added an unbeaten 84-run partnership for the eight-wicket to script a famous win for the Men in Blue.
During the match, there were quite a few tense moments, and one of them also saw India head coach Rahul Dravid notice something that he couldn’t resist keeping to himself. Dravid rushed from the dressing room and went straight to Rahul Chahar sitting in the dugout. The 48-year-old gave the spinner a message to pass on to Deepak, who was batting brilliantly in the middle with Bhuvneshwar.
https://twitter.com/Sanjivakkuk/status/1417724670758035456
Always good to see him in the dressing room! Indian cricket in Mr. Dravid's hands. #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/zjUsZvhHN6
— Vivek Subramanian (@viveks1912) July 20, 2021
Must be a deja vu moment for Rahul Dravid: sitting in the dressing room, witnessing 2 bowlers take India to an improbable with handy contributions with the bat, 25 years apart!
— Nikhil Naz (@NikhilNaz) July 21, 2021
Some advice from Rahul Dravid to Rahul Chahar for passing to Deepak Chahar. #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/zItAYkkTzE
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 20, 2021
Finally Rahul Dravid 😭❤️ pic.twitter.com/qfOmB8BhWC
— Wellu (@Wellutwt) July 20, 2021
Dravid sahb came from the dressing room all the way down to the dugout and gave valuable tips ❤
— 𝑷𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒕 (@Kohliesque) July 20, 2021
Rahul Dravid come out to the dugout and give advice to Rahul Chahar to pass Deepak Chahar. #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/XoPeFoVXRB
— 𝚊 (@aqqu___) July 20, 2021
Waaaah!!!
Moment of the match ❤️
Rahul Dravid in the dugout, 10 secs chat with Rahul Chahar and goes upstairs. #SLvsIND pic.twitter.com/IPYIWhtwds
— Vinesh Prabhu (@prabhu_vinesh94) July 20, 2021
Rahul finally got time to enter the field when Deepak suffered cramps in the 47th over. Deepak’s injury wasn’t serious, but it at least gave the substitutes enough time to pass on Dravid’s message.
Fans soon got to see Deepak playing four consecutive dot balls in the next over bowled by Wanindu Hasaranga – Sri Lanka’s leading wicket taker in the match.
Chahar and Bhuvneshwar then hit three fours in the next seven balls to take India over the finish line with three wickets in hand.
