Prasad urges not to take foreign coaches seriously, citing Chahar's example

Former India fast bowler Venkatesh bowler reveals Deepak Chahar was told by the then Rajasthan Cricket Academy (RCA) chief Greg Chappell to quit cricket and find another job. He adds that Chahar was rejected due to his height and advises Indians to believe in themselves and not to take foreign coaches too seriously.

The 28-year-old played a match-winning knock against Sri Lanka, which helped India clinch the OOD series.  "Deepak Chahar was rejected by Greg Chappell at RCA for his height and told to look at a different occupation. And he single-handedly won a match with not even his primary skills," Prasad tweeted.

"Moral of the story- Believe in yourself and don't take overseas coaches too seriously," said the 51-year-old Prasad who played 33 Tests with 96 wickets between 1996 and 2001.

Deepak Chahar Was rejected by Greg Chappell at RCA for his height and told to look at a different occupation.
And he single handedly won a match with not even his primary skills.
Moral of the story- Believe in yourself and don't take overseas coaches too seriously. pic.twitter.com/cByzg9uorj

— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) July 21, 2021

Primarily a right-arm medium pacer, Chahar, coming out at number eight, hit an 82-ball 69 not out to help India notch up a three-wicket win in the second ODI against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

"There are off-course exceptions but with such wonderful talent in India, it's time that teams and franchisees consider having Indian coaches and mentors as much as possible," Prasad noted.

There are off-course exceptions but with such wonderful talent in India, it's time that teams and franchisees consider having Indian coaches and mentors as
much as possible.

— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) July 21, 2021

Chahar was just 14 when he was rejected by Chappell, but in an exclusive interview with Cricket.com, the pacer said that it motivated him to work harder.

"The media has hyped Greg Chappell rejecting me in the Rajasthan team. I was just 14 years old then but since it makes for a good story everyone is writing on it. Of course Chappell’s rejection motivated me to work harder than I did, but I feel I struggled the most from 2010-18. That phase was more difficult than Chappell’s rejection," Chahar said.

"I got eight wickets on debut and was also the highest wicket-taker for Rajasthan that Ranji season, but after that I suffered a lot. The last six to seven years have been difficult due to injuries. I was not getting selected. I had no support. It is just lots of hard work which has brought me to the Indian team," he added.