IND vs WI | ODI is the toughest format to bowl, asserts Deepak Chahar

12/17/2019

On the eve of the second ODI against West Indies in Visakhapatnam, Deepak Chahar has revealed that it is the toughest to bowl in the 50-over format. The Rajasthan pacer wants to improve his middle overs bowling so that he can be a handy customer like he is in the start of the innings.

India fast bowler Deepak Chahar busted onto the scene from his IPL heroics with Chennai Super Kings. He is a regular in the yellows and his prowess is to swing the new ball. He made T20I debut before he played an ODI and he has been doing reasonably good in the shortest format. He has just picked up two wickets in the two ODIs he has played, having conceded more than six runs an over.

"I think ODI is the toughest format. In T20Is, you know what to do. Even if you give away 24 runs but don't pick up a wicket, that is still good bowling. In Tests, you have to keep attacking, even if you give away runs but pick up wickets, it's good for the team. However, in ODIs, you have to mix both -- pick up wickets and contain the runs as well. You have to read the situation really well. You need to understand what the team wants from you. You need to assess the batsman and then decide whether to contain or get him out," Deepak Chahar told reporters in Visakhapatnam.

He accepted that he is lacking in bowling at the middle stage of the game and he is in the process of improvement.

"In the past, I struggled to bowl in the middle overs. In the powerplay, it's about containing runs, in death, you have to stop batsman going after you. But in the middle overs, I have gotten better. I am learning. I will learn as I progress."

The pacer blamed poor bowling and fielding for their loss in the first ODI in Chennai. He is hopeful of turning the fortunes with improved bowling performance in the second ODI in Vizag.

"To be honest, we didn't bowl well in the 1st ODI. Hopefully, if we are in a similar situation in the 2nd ODI, we will have to bowl better as a unit. Fielding has been lacking in the last 4 matches. We have dropped too many matches. If we drop catches, against these big hitters who try to hit more sixes than boundaries, then it will become very difficult for us. As a fielding unit and bowling unit, we need to improve," Deepak said

First ODI was Deepak’s only second appearance in ODIs and has already played 10 T20Is and having his best figure of 6 for 7 in T20Is.