Playing for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has played an important role in the preparation of Indian pacer Deepak Chahar. Chahar is known to be one of the best players in the Indian cricket team when it comes to swing bowling and has been CSK’s ace since their debut in the cash-rich league. Chahar hit the first ball of his IPL career and dismissed Mumbai Indians opener Evin Lewis in 2018.
However, Deepak Chahar has also missed many important matches due to his ongoing injury problems. While Chahar is all set to play in IPL 2024, speaking at a public event in Chennai, the right-handed pacer spoke about the importance of the season.
Talking about the importance of IPL 2024, Deepak Chahar stated that it is an important season as India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 will be decided based on the 17th edition of the cash-rich league. He feels that the management is looking for players who will perform on the big stage and those who do well in IPL 2024 will get a chance. Deepak added that there is additional pressure on him, but he believes in his strengths.
Deepak Chahar on the importance of IPL 2024
Deepak Chahar said (quoted by the Indian Express), “It is an important IPL for everyone because it is the first time that everyone knows that the Indian team (for the World Cup) will be decided based on performance in the IPL. You know the setup: these are the players they’re going to look for. Whoever performs well in this IPL will get the opportunity. Obviously it’s extra pressure, but I believe in my strengths. In any team I have played for, I have contributed with bat and ball. “It doesn’t matter who is in front of me.”
Deepak Chahar is more of a new bowler and finishes most of the wickets in the first half of the innings. However, Chahar has also been working on his death bowling with coach and West Indies legend Dwayne Bravo. Deepak Chahar stated that Bravo has a lot of experience and 600 wickets in T20 cricket. He added that the West Indies veteran doesn’t teach him much about bowling with the new ball, but rather tells him more about the batsman’s mentality in the death overs.
Deepak Chahar said, “He has a lot of experience. He has more than 600 wickets in T20 cricket. It doesn’t teach me much [with the new ball], but when it comes to the old ball, he begins to give his training, especially on the batsmen’s mentality at the death. You have to understand that to be good at death.”
Deepak Chahar has been in and out of the Indian cricket team and the main reason behind the same has been his injuries. Chahar also scored a six fer in T20I cricket for India, which shows his ability with the ball. Instead of being an excellent pacer, he can also score runs with the bat and hit the ball for a long time.