Team India and Chennai Super Kings all-rounder Deepak Chahar has become one of the most expensive buys of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 auction after being bought back by MS Dhoni-led franchise for a whopping Rs 14 crore. However, that was the high-point for Chahar last year as the pacer was ruled out of the entire IPL 2022 due to a back injury.


COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

Since being bought back by four-time champions CSK, Chahar is yet to turn out for the ‘Yellow Brigade’. The pace bowler will be looking to change all that and come back with a bang in the IPL 2023, which gets underway with CSK taking on defending champions Gujarat Titans at Ahmedabad on March 31.


The 30-year-old all-rounder has had a tough time last year, dealing with stress fracture and a quad grade 3 tear. Chahar last turned out for India in the second ODI against Bangladesh last year. Having done an extensive rehab at the National Cricket Academy, Chahar is preparing for the IPL where he will represent the Chennai Super Kings.


“I am working hard for the past two three months on my fitness, I am fully fit and preparing well for the IPL,” Chahar told PTI news agency. “I had two big injures. One was stress fracture and one was quad grade 3 tear. They are both are very big injuries. You are out for months. Anyone who comes back after the injury it takes time, especially for the fast bowlers.


“If I was a batter I would be playing way back long but as a fast bowler, when you have a stress fracture, it is very tough to get back on track. You can see other bowlers struggling with the back as well,” the CSK pacer added.



The Rajasthan fast bowler made a return to competitive cricket with a first-class game against Services last month but that was his only appearance in Ranji Trophy. Multiple injuries have pushed him down in the pecking order but he hopes to be part of the Indian team for the ODI World Cup at home later this year.


“I have lived by one rule all my life. If I am fully bowling the way I want, if I am batting the way I want, there is no stopping me. That was the basic rule with which I started my career. I don’t care who is playing, who is not playing, my motive is to get fully fit and perform with the ball and bat 100 per cent. If I do that, I will get my chances,” said Chahar who has also proved his value with the bat in his international career that began in 2018.


Since making his India debut in July 2018, he has managed to play in 13 ODIs and 24 T20s. The men’s IPL will be preceded by the inaugural Women’s Premier League and Chahar could not be more excited for his female counterparts. “IPL changed men’s cricket forever, people got a lot of opportunities. Same thing will happen with Women’s Premier League. Women's cricket will grow very fast as they will face international players very early in their careers. It will also help a lot of women cricketers who have not been able to make money and will fuel competition,” said Chahar.


(with PTI inputs)