‘Hopefully, I play this entire season and year injury free’ - Deepak Chahar ahead of CSK vs LSG clash

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) fast bowler Deepak Chahar has stated that he is hoping to play the entire season of the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) without injury. The 30-year-old bowler, who is a key member of CSK, was out for more than eight months last year due to a stress fracture and a quad grade 3 tear. He returned to the squad for the ongoing edition of the cash-rich league.

Chahar believes that returning from an injury is difficult for a fast bowler. He added that he hoped not to get it again and that he intended to play the entire season.

“I know how to deal with injuries, but this time it was longer. It was at least eight months. For a fast bowler, coming back from an injury is a difficult task. Hopefully, I don’t get it again and I play this entire season and year injury free," Chahar told CSK TV. 

He stated that he considered himself extremely fortunate to be a member of a team like CSK. He went on to say that if a team had a supportive environment and was always talking about winning the title, that's where one would get to the finals and win the finals.

“I have been lucky to be part of a good team and good environment. If you have an environment, where everyone is supporting each other. And if you are always talking about winning the tournament. That’s where you reach the finals and win the finals,” he added.

Deepak Chahar was an integral part of CSK's title-winning campaign in the 2021 IPL, taking 14 wickets in 14 matches. CSK signed him in the 2022 auction for INR 14 crore. Notably, he has been with the four-time champions since 2016.

CSK will host LSG on Monday in Chennai

CSK did not get off to a good start in the IPL 2023 opener, losing to the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 31. MS Dhoni and his team will face Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Monday, April 3 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk, Chennai.

Lucknow, on the other hand, defeated Delhi Capitals in their first match and got off to an envious start in the tournament. Keeping this momentum going, the KL Rahul-led side would be looking to register yet another victory against Chennai and scale up the table.

This will be Chennai's first home game of the season and fans would be raring to get a glimpse of Dhoni in what is being reported as his last season in the IPL.