IPL 2024: Deepak Chahar joins CSK camp in Chennai

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have commenced their pre-season camp in Chennai, and all eyes are on pacer Deepak Chahar, who is gearing up for a potential national comeback. With the IPL 2024 set to begin on March 22, Chahar sees this as an opportunity to stake his claim in the national team ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup in June.

Chahar, who has been an integral part of the CSK bowling unit, has faced numerous setbacks due to injuries in recent times. The seamer last played competitive cricket in December 2022 when he pulled out of the T20 series against Australia midway.

Also read: Deepak Chahar shares experience of recuperation journey

Subsequently, he missed the tour of South Africa due to his father's illness. However, after declaring himself fully fit last month while training at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, Chahar is determined to make a strong comeback and prove his worth once again.

The CSK pre-season camp kicked off on Saturday with the arrival of the first batch of Indian players, including Simarjeet Singh, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Mukesh Choudhary, Prashant Solanki, Ajay Mandal, and Deepak Chahar. According to a Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) official, more players are expected to join the camp in the coming days.

"The first batch of local (Indian) players arrived on Friday and more are expected to arrive in the coming days," a Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) official was quoted as saying by Rediff.com

Chahar's presence in the camp is a positive sign for CSK, as the pacer has been a vital cog in their bowling lineup. In the IPL 2023 season, Chahar picked up 13 wickets, showcasing his ability to swing the ball and take crucial wickets in the powerplay overs. Chahar was ruled out from IPL 2022 due to a back injury.

Also read: 'Dhoni, Dhoni' chants erupt as CSK teammate Shivam Dube receives thrilling reception at VIT, Vellore

CSK will play the curtain raiser against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on March 22 in Chennai, and Chahar will be aiming to hit the ground running and prove his worth to the team and the selectors. With his ability to swing the ball and take crucial wickets, Chahar's return could be a game-changer for both CSK and the Indian team.