JAIPUR: Deepak Chahar is back on the field. Having played all the four Ranji Trophy matches so far for Rajasthan this season and bowled 99 overs with 13 scalps to his name, the seamer says his body is responding well to the grind of the longer format and is confident the hard yards he is putting in here will help him revive his international career.
The 32-year-old right-arm bowler’s tryst with injuries has been a speed breaker to his progress at the national level, but Deepak’s confidence has not waned, and he feels that no other bowler can offer the skill set he possesses.
Before the start of the domestic season, he last played an Indian Premier League (IPL) match for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on May 1 before having to make an exit from the tournament owing to an injury. TOI caught up with the fast bowler and he shared his struggle with recurrent injuries, international comeback, IPL auction among other things.
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Excerpts:
How is your body responding to the grind of Ranji Trophy?
During the IPL itself I had made up my mind to play all the Ranji games. It’s a format that tests your skill and fitness, so I prepared for it with that mindset. So far, it’s going great. In three matches in Jaipur, we got to bowl twice and that’s a challenge. After a very long time I bowled 16 overs in an innings, and it felt great.
What was the nature of the injuries you dealt with in the last few years?
There were two big injuries. One was a stress fracture in the back and the other one was in quads, grid-three tears. Twice I have dealt with back issues and have spent 18 months in rehab in the last three years. It’s not just me, most bowlers go through it. But I feel the timing of the injuries was wrong. Anyhow, I am now confident about my body and everyone out there has faith in my skill.
You are playing Ranji Trophy after four years…
It will help me polish myself. It was because of injuries I could not play the previous seasons. Even last year at the time of the Ranji games I was in rehab and was not cleared to play the longer format.
How frustrating it is to miss out on games and not be available for selection because of injuries?
I trust my skill and that gives me the confidence to believe that I can make a comeback into the international side. The only thing I need to ensure is to get fitter and be available for selection. I can’t afford to sit and brood over injuries. What I can offer as a seamer is something every team wants – I can bat lower down the order and can be very effective with the new ball. I am at that stage where my game has matured, and I have a sense of how to deal with different match situations. Next three years are crucial for me.
CSK, the franchise you have represented since the start of your IPL career, did not retain you. How do you look at it?
I was not retained by them in the last mega auction as well. But they went all out for me and bought me back. I don’t know what will happen this year, but I know my skill will be valued more now given the fact that around 90-100 runs are being scored in the Powerplay and that’s why the teams are scoring more than 200 more frequently. I have proved how valuable I can be in limiting runs in that phase of the game.
Do you want MS Dhoni‘s side to bid for you again?
I think they will bid for me again. I would like to don the yellow jersey again and if not that, then I would want Rajasthan Royals to bid for me.
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