Birthday special: Deepak Chahar – A potential pace bowling all-rounder for India
Deepak Chahar has been plying his trade in Indian cricket since 2010 after making his List A debut for Rajasthan in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. However, it took them around seven and half years more to grab the limelight. The 2018 edition of the Indian Premier League, where he played for the three-time champions Chennai Super Kings, became a turning point in his career.
Playing under the captaincy of MS Dhoni, Chahar picked up 10 wickets from 12 matches at an excellent economy of 7.28. The performance earned him a national call-up for the tour of Ireland and England later that year. His career started turning around in 2019.
Deepak Chahar scaling new heights
During a T20I against the West Indies at the Providence Stadium in Guyana, Chahar brought his A-game to the fore. In his first spell, he dismissed Evin Lewis, Sunil Narine and Shimron Hetmyer to end with figures of 3-1-4-3. From there on, Chahar didn’t look back in his sojourn.
Later that year in November, he registered the best bowling figures in T20I cricket. At the VCA Stadium in Nagpur the right-arm pacer returned with numbers of 3.2-0-7-6 against Bangladesh, also helping the Men in Blue win the three-match series 2-1.
Due to his spell, the Tigers were bowled out for 144 after being placed at 110 for two with 65 needed off 47 balls. In his 14-match T20I career thus far, Chahar has picked up 20 wickets. Parking aside his bowling prowess, the 28-year-old is no mug with the bat either.
Having scored five half-centuries, combining first-class, List A and T20 cricket, he can definitely wield the willow. Back on July 20, Chahar probably played the most important knock in his career. His unbeaten 69 steered India past the finishing line in the second ODI at the R Premadasa Stadium.
In the last 14.5 overs of the game in Colombo, India needed 83 to win with three wickets in hand. His unbeaten 84-run stand with Bhuvneshwar Kumar sealed the deal for the Men in Blue. Though primarily still being a bowler, Chahar has the ingredients to become a valuable all-rounder for India.
