IND vs SA | I play each match as if it is my last for India, says Deepak Chahar
Deepak Chahar has stated that he considers each game as his last for India and that propels him to give his best performance everytime he steps his foot onto the field. Chahar has also added that even though he is branded as a new-ball bowler, he finds it easier to bowl at death overs.
Deepak Chahar has made a name for himself in the Indian Premier League, by bowling early in the powerplay overs, where he became just untouchable. Such was his effectiveness that Chennai Super Kings built their bowling plan around him, and it reaped huge dividends, with the MS Dhoni-led team winning the title in 2018 and reaching the finals in the next year. However, bursting the popular myth, Chahar stated that he finds it easier to bowl with the old ball, especially because of the field placements.
“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, who was India’s standout bowler in their seven-wicket win over South Africa on Wednesday, reported Sportstar.
“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. 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 knuckleball, it can surprise him. You to have to keep guessing the batsman,” said the Rajasthan pacer.
With the T20 World Cup just a year away, India are slated to play as many as 27 T20Is before that to give ample time for its players to settle with the format. That comes as an opportunity for the young breed of cricketers like Chahar, his brother Rahul Chahar, Navdeep Saini, and Avesh Khan to swing into the action and stake a claim for themselves in the side. Chahar knows that quite well and stated that he plays each match as if it is his last for India.
“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 maybe 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.”