Playing for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has played a major role in the grooming of Indian pacer Deepak Chahar. Chahar is known to be one of the best bowlers in the Indian cricket team when it comes to swing bowling and has been CSK’s ace pacer ever since his debut in the cash-rich league. Chahar struck on the first ball of his IPL career and dismissed Mumbai Indians opener Evin Lewis in 2018.
However, Deepak Chahar has also missed many important games due to his continuous issues with his injuries. While Chahar is all set to play in the IPL 2024, speaking up in a public event in Chennai, the right-handed pacer opened up about the importance of the season.
Speaking up on 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 the players who will perform on the big stage and the ones who do well in IPL 2024 will get the chance. Deepak added that there is extra pressure on him but he believes in his strengths.
Deepak Chahar on the importance of IPL 2024
Deepak Chahar said (as quoted by the Indian Express), “It’s an important IPL for everyone because this is the first time everyone knows that the Indian squad (for the World Cup) will be decided based on the performance in the IPL. You know the set-up – these are the players they’re going to look for. Whoever performs well in this IPL will get the chance. Obviously, it puts additional extra pressure, but I believe in my strengths. Whichever team I’ve played for, I’ve contributed with bat and ball. It doesn’t matter who is ahead of me.”
Deepak Chahar is more of a new ball bowler and finishes most of the quota overs in the early 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 a lot to bowl with the new ball rather he tells more about the batsman’s mindset in the death overs.
Deepak Chahar said, “He has so much experience. He has more than 600 wickets in T20 cricket. He doesn’t teach me a lot [with the new ball], but when it comes to the old ball, he starts giving his coaching, especially about the mindset of batsmen at the death. You need to understand that to be good at the death.”
Deepak Chahar has been in and out of the Indian cricket team and the major reason behind the same has been his injuries. Chahar has also taken a six-fer in T20I cricket for India which shows his ability with the ball. Rather than being a brilliant pacer, he also can score runs with the bat and can hit the ball very long.