Deepak Chahar made headlines for becoming a beast in the powerplay overs for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. In a MS Dhoni special move, the veteran CSK ‘Thala’ made Chahar a new ball specialist, giving him three, or sometimes all four overs, on the trot in the powerplay. Chahar was an instant hit due to his ability to string together dots and swing the new ball.
But now, Chahar has come out with claims that he enjoys death overs bowling. While most bowlers have nightmares about death bowling in this day and age, here was a powerplay specialist openly stating that he liked bowling in death more than with the new ball.
After picking two wickets against the Proteas, Chahar commented on his powerplay bowling abilities.
“I don’t know how I developed it (bowling at the top) but you have to do it when you are playing for India. It is challenging with only two fielders outside the circle. But I have started thinking sub-consciously that I will need to bowl three overs with two fielders outside the circle,” said Chahar.
He dismissed Reeza Hendricks in the powerplay and returned to pick up Temba Bavuma’s wicket in the death overs with a slower ball.
“Earlier I used to bowl more in the death overs and find it easier because in Powerplay you have only two fielders outside the circle and after that you have the protection of five fielders. You can use variation also in death overs,” he said.
“How I bowl depends on the batsmen. In the death overs, the batsmen is expecting yorkers or a slower ball but if you can also bowl a bouncer or knuckle ball, it can surprise him. You to have to keep guessing the batsman,” said Chahar.
Chahar is thankful for his Chennai experience too. Bowling on the flat or spin friendly wickets at Chepauk, Chahar has had to reinvent and think on the feet.
“There is no off the wicket help when you are playing in Chennai. But when we were playing in Pune last to last year, there was help both off the wicket and in the air. But in Chennai, the swing is there for maximum one over as there is no grass. So, I got confidence that if I could do well there, I could do well elsewhere too,” he said.
Chahar acknowledges it is too early to start thinking about the T20 World Cup. He is leading India’s T20I attack this series with Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami missing. But when the trio come back, India might not have room to fit in Chahar. What he can do, and has done, is grab his chances.
“There is one whole year left for that. I play each match as if it is my last for India. At this time Indian cricket is at the top. If you want to play you have to do well in almost every game. There is a lot of competition and may be that is why Indian cricket is at the top.
“There is no guarantee that you will get your place back even if you are returning from an injury.”