Injury-related challenges; still not 100%; attempting to contribute to the team: Deepak Chahar

Despite resuming action in the IPL 2023, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) pacer Deepak Chahar confessed that he is still not totally fit after his injury. Notably, Chahar played a significant role in CSK’s win against the Delhi Capitals (DC) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Wednesday, May 10.

For the uninitiated, Deepak Chahar was confined to the sidelines in between seasons after he sustained an injury to his hamstring during the clash against arch-rivals the Mumbai Indians on April 8. Following his comeback to the setup, Chahar remarked that one had to start from scratch after sustaining an injury, which becomes challenging for a player.

“Having injuries makes things very tough because each time you get hurt, you have to start over. Still not 100% but trying to do a job to contribute to the team,” Deepak Chahar told the broadcasters after CSK’s win over DC on Wednesday, May 10.

MS Dhoni‘s strategy for Deepak Chahar during the chase was to bowl slowly and swing it.

Speaking of the contest, Chahar delivered the first blows early on by capturing the prized scalps of David Warner and Phil Salt, leaving DC in disarray. The pacer finished his three overs with 2/28 and a 9.33 economy.

After the victory, Chahar disclosed that a slower wicket was available, so he spoke with the captain, MS Dhoni, to come up with a plan. According to Chahar, the 41-year-old advised him to bowl slowly because it would be difficult for the batters to hit the boundaries.

“It was swinging wonderfully, but the pitch was slow at the same time. When the wickets go slower, you don’t need to bowl fast; instead, bowl slowly and swing it to make it harder for the batters to get boundaries during the powerplay, Mahi Bhai told me in our conversation.

With this victory, the yellow team’s winning streak now stands at seven, and they are currently ranked second in the IPL Points Table with 15 points after 12 games. Additionally, MS Dhoni and company have all but guaranteed their place in the tournament’s playoffs.