The Chennai Super Kings (CSK), one of the most celebrated teams in the IPL, are currently navigating through the 2024 season with a blend of strategy and resilience. Among the updates from the team is the status of Deepak Chahar, a pivotal player in CSK’s bowling lineup, whose recent injury has been a talking point among fans and analysts alike.

The Impact of Deepak Chahar’s Injury

Deepak Chahar has been a crucial bowler for CSK, known for his swing bowling and ability to pick early wickets. His role in the team is instrumental, often setting the tone in the initial overs of the game.

See Also: ‘At 33, my career is just starting’ – Asha Sobhana says after she earns her maiden call-up for Bangladesh tour

Recently, Chahar sustained a minor niggle, which has led to him warming the sidelines. The nature of his injury, described as minor by CSK’s head coach Stephen Fleming, suggests a cautious approach to his recovery, prioritizing long-term fitness over immediate gameplay.

Chahar’s absence means a shift in the bowling strategy for CSK, with other players needing to step up to fill his overs. The team’s approach in the upcoming games will likely reflect this adjustment.

Overview of Fleming’s Statements

During a recent pre-match press conference, Fleming provided updates on Chahar’s condition, reassuring that the injury was minor and that Chahar was undergoing rehabilitation. He emphasized the importance of allowing adequate recovery time for Chahar.

“He is doing his rehabs well. It was a minor injury nothing to worry about. Shardul Thakur bowled well in the last match against Mumbai so we opted to give time to Chahar to recover well,” said Fleming on Chahar at the pre-match press conference.

Shardul Thakur, stepping in for Chahar, has been a competent all-rounder with a proven track record in both domestic and international cricket. His ability to control the run rate and deliver in crucial moments has been evident in recent games.

In the match against Mumbai Indians, Thakur managed to keep the scoring under control, conceding just 35 runs in his quota of four overs. His performance has been crucial in maintaining the team’s momentum in Chahar’s absence.

Brief Overview of CSK’s Performance

The season has seen CSK securing a strong position in the league standings, thanks in part to strategic gameplay and dynamic leadership. Under the captaincy of Ruturaj Gaikwad, the team has showcased a balanced attack and has secured four wins out of six games, placing them third in the standings.

The upcoming match against the Lucknow Super Giants is critical for CSK to maintain their position in the top tier of the standings. With both teams showcasing formidable line-ups, the clash is expected to be a highlight of the season.

Chennai Super Kings’ versatile player, Deepak Chahar, brought a touch of humor to the pre-match banter as he shared insights into the upcoming clash in IPL 2024. With the game set to unfold in Hyderabad, Chahar playfully disclosed the curator’s ambitious plans to turn the match into a run-fest.

According to Chahar, the curator in Hyderabad is aiming to surpass the monumental 277-run mark set in a previous encounter held in Vizag. In a jovial tone, he hinted at the curator’s determination to see the boundaries flowing freely and the scoreboard ticking relentlessly.

Chahar shares pitch dynamics

“I think the ball is swinging less, the wickets are pretty flat, last match in Vizag, I asked the curator if he wanted to see 300 runs being scored, he just said that he wanted to break the 277-run record set in Hyderabad (laughs). Last match, KKR made 272 there. I think this mentality should change, they should prepare 200-run pitches. For me, the pitch doesn’t matter, the ball does swing in the 1st over. I’ve played a lot of games, the bounce is always good, there’s something in this wicket for the pacers, it’s not flat. It’s better in the middle overs.”

“Last time the crowd support was 90-10 in favor of CSK” – Deepak Chahar

Reflecting on recent IPL fixtures, Chahar highlighted the trend of high-scoring matches, where teams batting first have breached the 270-run barrier with remarkable ease. He reminisced about the SunRisers’ phenomenal innings, posting a daunting 277 against the Mumbai Indians, followed by a commendable response from the latter with a score of 246. Additionally, he recalled the Kolkata Knight Riders’ dominant performance in Vizag, where they amassed a staggering 272/7 and clinched victory by a massive 106-run margin.

“Anyway, you don’t bowl a lot of bouncers with the new ball. But we did see with Mayank Yadav, he got protection in the deep, the batters will be left thinking, so it does help in the middle and death overs, especially if you use your variations. Last time the crowd support was 90-10 in favour of CSK, today I think it’s around 80-20.”

See Also: Watch: Fans go berserk at MS Dhoni’s entry in Hyderabad

Despite the curator’s aspirations for a run-laden spectacle, Chahar assured fans that the pitch in Hyderabad isn’t merely a batting paradise. With a mischievous grin, he hinted at some surprises in store, suggesting that seamers might find the conditions favorable for their craft.

In essence, Chahar’s playful revelation not only added an element of anticipation to the forthcoming match but also hinted at the potential for an exhilarating contest between bat and ball, promising entertainment for cricket enthusiasts worldwide. Today in the first innings CSK is rocking in the field with 156 runs in 18.3 over.

Senior Indian bowlers’ recurring injuries, according to Ravi Shastri, are “unreal,” “ridiculous,” and “frustrating.”

Shastri’s remarks came while examining the furthest down the line injury to Deepak Chahar, who dumbfounded only one preceding pulling out of Chennai Super Lords’ IPL match against Mumbai Indians in the wake of getting a left hamstring injury.

“Let’s put it this way: there are quite a few in the last three or four years who are permanent residents of the NCA. Soon, they’ll get a resident permit there to walk in any time they want, which is not a good thing at all. It’s unreal.” 

Shastri said on ESPNcricinfo’s T20 Time: Out show ahead of Super Kings’s home match against Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday.

Chahar had hamstring issues for the second time in the last five months, requiring him to leave a game before completing his four overs. Chahar left the second one-day international against Bangladesh in Mirpur in December after bowling three overs. After sustaining a Grade 3 quadricep tear in February, he then returned to the BCCI’s National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, where he would spend the majority of 2022.

A solid back, which was analyzed as a pressure crack, then deferred his rebound, baffling both Chahar and the Indian team Management, prompting Rohit Sharma saying that the group “can’t afford guys coming in here half-fit and representing the country”.

Chahar isn’t the only Indian athlete who has missed significant time due to recurring injuries: Yash Dayal, Navdeep Saini, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldip Sen, and Mohsin Khan have all been out of action recently for varying lengths of time. In fact, Bumrah tried to come back from his back injury multiple times before having surgery recently.

Ravi Shastri stated that the fact that the majority of these players were declared fit by the NCA medical team but were still suffering from injuries was the thing that bothered him the most

“Come on, you’re not playing that much cricket to be injured again and again. I mean, you can’t play four matches on the trot. What are you going to the NCA for? If you are going to come back and then three matches [later] you’re back there. So make sure you get fit and come once and for all because it’s damn frustrating. Not just for the team, the players, the BCCI, the captains of the various [IPL] franchises. It’s annoying, to say the least. I can understand a serious injury, but every four games when someone touches his hamstring or someone touches his groin, you start thinking what are these guys… what are they training, what’s going on. And some of them don’t play any other cricket in the year. It’s just four overs [in the IPL], man, three hours. The game is over.”

Shastri said.

In a statement to the media a day after the Mumbai Indians match, Super Kings stated that Chahar would undergo additional scans before his participation in the remainder of the IPL would be decided.

Chahar himself had recently stated that recovering from a significant injury was never simple. He had told PTI in February that he was “fully fit” and ready for the IPL.

“I had two big injures. One was a stress fracture and one was a quad grade 3 tear. They are both very big injuries. You are out for months. Anyone who comes back after the injury, it takes time, especially for the fast bowlers.”

he had said

India skipper Rohit Sharma has been ruled out of the third ODI following an injury to his left-hand thumb and will fly back to the country, India coach Rahul Dravid said at the press conference after the second ODI against Bangladesh. Despite the finger injury which saw him unable to open the innings for India, Rohit came in at number nine. Almost snatched the game away from the Tigers in the second ODI today with an unbeaten 28-ball 51.

Needing six off the last delivery, Rohit was left frustrated as Mustafizur Rahman produced a yorker to keep the right-hander at bay as Bangladesh won by five runs to seal a memorable series win 2-0. Rohit later informed during the post-match presentation ceremony that he had a dislocation but ‘fortunately it wasn’t a fracture’. While Rohit Sharma has been ruled out of the third ODI. Pacers Kuldeep Sen and Deepak Chahar will also sit out the third ODI through injuries. “Kuldeep, Deepak and Rohit will certainly miss the next game. I think Kuldeep and Deepak are out of the series.

Also Read: Mehidy leads Bangladesh to series-clinching win over India

“Kuldeep, Deepak and Rohit will certainly miss the next game

Rohit will certainly miss the next game, will fly back to Mumbai and consult with an expert and see how it is. Whether he can come back for the Test matches or not we’re not sure. It’s too early to say at the moment but certainly, in the next match the three won’t play,” Rahul Dravid said at press conference after the game. The India skipper had to be taken to hospital for scans after injury to left-hand thumb while fielding at slips very early on the game. Dravid praised his captain for showing courage under such circumstances.

“It was phenomenal. I think for him to show that level of courage. He had a serious dislocation, he had to go to hospital to get that set right, stitches in his hand, couple of injections to go out and bat. Credit to him, he was really determined to go out and have a go and take a chance. It’s amazing how close he got us with that innings, it was an absolutely phenomenal innings by the skipper.  Great courage to be able to go out there and give us a chance. Unfortunately, in the end we couldn’t get over the line,” Dravid said. With Rishabh Pant ruled out earlier, India have thirteen players available for the third ODi from a squad of 17.

After the pacer experienced stiffness in his back during the third and final T20I against the same opponent, all-rounder Washington Sundar has been selected to replace Deepak Chahar in India’s squad for the remaining two ODIs against South Africa. Chahar will report to the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru and be monitored there, according to the announcement made on Saturday by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Chahar had not played in the first one-day international that South Africa won in Lucknow.

Chahar is on the standby list for the T20 World Cup in 2022, and the Indian management team will hope that he is healthy enough to play in the main event.

Chahar was in the running to replace the star pacer in the main squad after his impressive performances in the T20Is against South Africa and Mohammed Shami’s exclusion from the T20I series against Australia and South Africa due to COVID-19. Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the tournament with a back injury.

The first and second one-day internationals against South Africa are scheduled for Sunday and are scheduled to conclude on Tuesday.

In the first one-day international, South Africa set India a target of 250 runs in 40 overs per side. India failed to reach its goal despite half-centuries from Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer, giving the visitors a 1-0 series lead.

India’s pace attack consisted of Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan, and Mohammed Siraj, with Chahar remaining on the bench throughout the match.

ALSO READ: Klusener to retire from ZIM coaching ahead of World Cup

India’s ODI squad for South Africa: Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), Rajat Patidar, Rahul Tripathi, Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Shahbaz Ahmed, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan, Mohd, and Ruturaj Gaikwad are the captains of the team.Washington Sundar, Siraj.

In a major blow to the Indian team, the leading pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022 due to a back stress fracture. The Board of Control for Cricket in India informed about Bumrah’s condition a few minutes before the toss took place at the 1st T20I between India and South Africa. The 28-year-old pacer has missed the Asia Cup 2022 due to his back issue. He made a comeback to the T20I team in the Australia series. But registered his worst performance in the 3rd T20I by giving away 50 runs in 4 overs.

The news of Bumrah’s exclusion from the T20 World Cup 2022 will be a big concern for the team which now needs a death bowling expert to replace him. Jasprit Bumrah is the second senior player to be ruled out of the T20 World Cup. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is also out of the ICC mega event as he is recovering from a knee injury.

Also Read: Siraj to replace Bumrah in IND vs SA

Bumrah is out for World Cup with a Stress Fracture; Shami, Umesh, and Chahar could get a slot

The selectors will have a hard time choosing Bumrah’s replacement as his void will be difficult to fill which is why he is considered as one of the top T20I bowlers. Mohammad Shami will be considered for the experience he brings with him. But he hasn’t played a T20I since the last T20 World Cup in November 2021. Among the other options, Deepak Chahar and Umesh Yadav are the current contenders as both of them are getting opportunities.

Umesh Yadav was picked for one match against Australia where he picked 2 wickets in 2 overs. He looked in great form in the IPL 2022 season, playing for Kolkata Knight Riders. Deepak Chahar has been picked for under-going India vs South Africa T20I series. He looks in good shape after coming back from an injury. A major plus point for Chahar is his ability to score a few crucial runs with the bat.

In front of one of the bluest seas of spectators you would ever see, India’s new-ball bowlers came up with a superlative show of swing bowling on a starless Wednesday night. The cream of the South African batting had no answer to Deepak Chahar and Arshdeep Singh, neither of whom had figured in the recent series against Australia. They broke the back of the formidable Proteas batting and justified their captain Rohit Sharma’s decision to bowl first in the opening T20I at the Greenfield Stadium.

South Africa could make only 106 for eight. Despite a slow start, which saw India registering its lowest PowerPlay score of 17 for one, the host romped home with 3.2 overs to spare. Much to the delight of the massive crowd, which would have probably liked to see a few more big hits. They nevertheless were able to witness some brilliant bowling by India up front. As the visitors slid to nine for five inside the third over.

Also Read: Bangladesh Enter a State of Transition as Golden Era Slowly Moves Away

Pacers took 5 wickets in just 15 balls, taking away a victory from South Africa

It all began with the last ball of the first over. After swinging three balls, back-to-back, away from the South Africa captain Temba Bavuma, Chahar moved one in. The middle stump was knocked off as the ball sneaked through the gate. In the second ball of the next over, Arshdeep incredibly struck thrice. The young left-armer had Quinton de Kock playing away from his body only to get dismissed playing on. That happened on the second ball.

Three balls later, Rilee Rossouw was caught behind, for a golden duck, by Rishabh Pant off one that moved away. Off the next ball the dangerous David Miller has bowled an inswinger. Earlier, India entered the field, showing four changes from the side that defeated in the series-decider against Australia three days ago. Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, who has complained of back pain. Yuzvendra Chahal made way for Pant, Arshdeep, Deepak and R. Ashwin.

For Team India’s final match in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022, Deepak Chahar has been selected by the All-India Senior Selection Committee to replace Avesh Khan. According to a formal statement, “Avesh Khan is recovering from a sickness and has been advised rest by the BCCI medical team.” Avesh Khan’s Asia Cup performance was subpar.

In his two overs against Pakistan, he was pricey and finished with a spell of 1/19. The bowler had a poor outing and was hit all over the park in the following game against Hong Kong. He had dismal final stats of 1/53 in four overs.

Deepak Chahar had travelled to Dubai for the competition and was listed as one of the standbys on the team.

On Thursday, India’s final Super Four Asia Cup 2022 matchup will be against Afghanistan.

India currently ranks third in the Super Four standings with 0 points and 2 losses in 2 games. After Pakistan overcame Afghanistan by one wicket in a thrilling match on Wednesday, they are no longer in the running for the championship.

ALSO READ: Asia Cup 2022: IND faces heat after defeat

India lost by five wickets against Pakistan and subsequently by six wickets to Sri Lanka in their two Super Four matches.

Men in Blue defeated Pakistan by five wickets and Hong Kong by 40 runs to advance quickly to the Super Four.

ZIM vs IND,1st ODI: India 192 for 0 (Gill 82*, Dhawan 81*) beat Zimbabwe 189 (Chakabva 35, Ngarava 34, Axar 3-24, Chahar 3-27, Prasidh 3-50) by 10 wickets

Deepak Chahar, examining new-ball spell on his impressive return after six months followed by a century stand between in-form openers Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill plunged Zimbabwe to their thirteenth consecutive ODI defeat to India. Chahar’s swing, Prasidh Krishna’s bounce and Axar Patel’s accuracy assisted them with sacking three wickets each to bowl the hosts out for 189 before Dhawan and Gill chased the target down with almost 20 overs to spare.

India’s pace bowlers used the early moisture and swing to trouble Zimbabwe’s top order

Which had scarcely scored against Bangladesh as well. Chahar and Co. restricted Zimbabwe to 31 for 4 and then 110 for 8 after a counter-attacking 9th-wicket stand of 70 off 65 balls between Brad Evans and Richard Ngarava lifted them to a fairly respectable total.

Chahar began gingerly before he sent back the hosts’ top order in an opening explosion of 7-0-27-3, in which he swung the ball the two different ways and had Innocent Kaia and Tadiwanashe Marumani caught behind by 9th over. Seven balls after Marumani fell in the ninth over, the returning Sean Williams lasted just three balls when he edged Mohammed Siraj to first slip. Five balls later, Chahar’s late outswing beat Wessley Madhevere to trap him lbw for 5, and Zimbabwe were four down in 10.1 overs.

It was down to Chakabva and Raza once more. Chakabva imparted some certainty when he slammed three fours in about eight balls, and both the batters utilised the DRS to get on-field lbw decisions overturned off Chahar and Kuldeep Yadav, respectively. Yet, Prasidh’s double strike dented Zimbabwe further when he had Raza gotten at slip and Ryan Burl threw his wicket by holing out on the leg side to leave the hosts reeling on 83 for 6.

When Axar struck in progressive overs by dismissing Chakabva and Luke Jongwe, it looked like  Zimbabwe would be skittled for under 150, however Ngarava and Evans retaliated with a whirlwind of boundaries off both speed and spin as conditions improved for batting. They began by rotating the strike and afterward changed to clean hitting to force bowling changes on India.

Evans was more attacking  of the two while Ngarava began slowly yet got pace as the stand approached the 50-mark and, surprisingly, swung Axar for a gigantic six over long on before he was bowled by Prasidh in the 40th over. Axar took the last wicket, which was also his 50th in ODIs.

ALSO READ: Siraj roped in by Warwickshire County Cricket!

Dhawan was beaten a few times by Victor Nyauchi’s outswingers early on, but he also attacked with pulls and cuts at whatever point the bowlers pitched it short. He also got a life on 32 in the thirteenth over when he was dropped at square leg off Williams. He soon reached his 38th ODI fifty, his third in four innings, when Gill had also opened up with three fours in the square region on the off side in one Evans over.

Gill started attacking more when he approached his fifty and raised the milestone by dispatching two full tosses from Burl through the covers in the 25th over. He began the following over with a four and a six through and over midwicket that took India to 150, and he even surpassed Dhawan in the following over. As boundaries came all the more effectively, Dhawan hit the winning runs by hauling Evans behind square to stay unbeaten on 81 with Gill on 82 not out.

India’s right-arm pace bowler Deepak Chahar has credited the growth in his cricketing calling to former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s suggestion, saying the veteran wicketkeeper-batter imparted a lot of faith in him, which converted into good performances.

Chahar, who missed the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL) season because of a hamstring injury and is ready for India comeback when the Asia Cup team is announced on August 8, expressed:

“Mahi bhai has given me a lot of advice. The best advice was to believe in myself. When I first played for CSK, the amount of confidence he gave me reflected in my performance. He’s the number one captain. If he believes in you, you have to believe in yourself. The belief I got from playing for CSK was massive. That changed my career. The belief and confidence Mahi bhai gave me was the best.”

Chahar said

The 29-yr-former CSK all-rounder, who has been coaching on the CSK academy after rehabilitation, expressed his ascent by the positions was in no way, shape or form clean, but he saved working “day and night” to get his goal.

“The graph will go up and down. For me, it went down for many years but still I worked hard day and night. I always thought there is no alternative to hard work. If you work hard, the day and time will come and you’ll play well. You’ll get what you deserve,”

added Chahar

“When you are small, it is important for you to imagine yourself as an international cricketer. You see posters on the wall. You should see your face in those pictures and that should make you work hard every session. You should see yourself there. My advice to every young bowler is to work hard. There is no alternative. Hard work is the key. Sometimes you get selected, sometimes you won’t. Sometimes they (other players) are better than you. The only way to beat them is by hard work. Nobody can help you. No coach or parent, nothing. When you enter the ground, only you can help yourself. We all dream of becoming Indian cricketers.”

he continued

ALSO READ: IRE vs SA, 2nd T20I: SA seals 2-0 sweep!

“When I started playing, I always wanted to be an all-rounder. I wanted to work on my batting as much as my bowling. It was a matter of opportunity that I was waiting for. Finally, I got that match. When I went to bat, all I was thinking was to make India win. First 20 balls, I didn’t score any runs, only one or two runs. We had the overs. I thought we had to play all the overs to win the match. What I thought was to take on certain bowlers. My whole thinking was to win the match because that was my dream. Every kid wants to play that kind of innings.”

On his batting, and his unbeaten 69 against Sri Lanka in an ODI in 2021, Chahar said.