IPL 2018 | Experienced players help CSK win close matches, believes Deepak Chahar

04/23/2018

Deepak Chahar, who rose to the occasion in CSK’s win against SRH, believes that having experienced players in the side has helped the team in securing in tight matches. Chahar took three crucial wickets in his match winning spell against SRH, helping his team to win the close encounter.

Chahar played a vital role in CSK’s win against SRH on Sunday claiming three wickets at the cost of just 15 runs in his quota of 4 overs. In Sunday’s encounter against SRH, CSK made a strong statement by beating the home team in their backyard. CSK won the close encounter by 4 runs, giving their supporters who had come in huge numbers to support them the entertainment value that the IPL promises.

Speaking to the media after CSK’s win, Chahar said that the atmosphere in the camp is very friendly and helps players to perform to their full potential.

“We have Captain Cool (MS Dhoni), the atmosphere in the CSK camp is like that of a family. I am playing (with the franchise) for the first time but each player feels like that. They get motivated to give their 100 per cent. If you watch us closely while fielding you will find that our attitude is very different. When I am on the field I am not distracted even for a second. The focus and the will to win matters a lot,” said Deepak Chahar.

Chahar was of the opinion that experienced players in the team has helped youngsters like him to understand the game well and also, has helped the team to get over the finishing line in crunch games.

“They say age is just a number. In this tournament, in T20 cricket, it is very important to have good strength of all-rounders. We have a lot of them, which gives us options as well. One gets experience with age, which is something we are getting to see. In so many close matches you need experience. On the field, when you are not doing well you get advice from a bowler who has taken 400 wickets (Dwayne Bravo), or Shane Watson who has played so many matches. When an experienced player gives you an advice you start thinking. It is helping us,” he said.

Giving SRH early blows and putting CSK in the drivers’ seat, Chahar credited bounce and pace from the wicket for his splendid bowling upfront.

“The ball was coming on slow to the batsmen when we (Chennai Super Kings) were batting. There was bounce on the wicket but the ball was coming on slow. The wicket had some support in terms of pace when we started with our bowling. There was good bounce if the ball was put in the right areas. With the strong breeze the ball was moving around as well. It is always good for a fast bowler if there is bounce and swing,” he said.

Rayudu scored a thrilling 37-ball 79 on a wicket which was not good to bat on. Terming Rayudu’s batting as ‘unbelievable’, Chahar was huge on praise for his CSK teammate.

“The way Rayudu bhaiya batted was unbelievable. We do not get to see such kind of batting in IPL. The way he hit the ball, on that wicket and in those conditions was incredible.”

Chahar revealed that their plan was to simply not give SRH batsmen any room to hit the ball and bowl in their weak areas.

“The idea was to not bowl in the batsman’s strike area especially when he was doing well. Yusuf Pathan is strong on the midwicket area and the plan was to bowl outside the off-stump. It was important to bowl in the weak areas. His (MS Dhoni’s) message was to remain cool and bowl in a specific line,” explained Chahar.

Chahar and his brother Rahul, who is with Rajasthan Royals (RR), have been coached by their father. Chahar said both of them are happy to pay back to their father who has worked hard on them.

“Our father has been a coach to me and Rahul. He has worked very hard with us. It was a dream to play for India and in the IPL and do well. Rahul and I have done a lot of hard work and when you do well at this stage then it is a proud feeling. We are trying to pay back to our father for all his hard work. We are happy to be able to do something for him,” Deepak concluded.

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