If you do well in IPL, then you can quickly play for India - Deepak Chahar

Deepak Chahar grinded for almost a decade in domestic cricket, took 8-10 against Hyderabad to consign them to the lowest Ranji Trophy total in the tournament’s history, battled through injuries, and endured a lot of setbacks. Then he was picked by MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and courtesy consistent performances in the past two seasons, the right-hander shot into limelight, and resultantly got a national call-up.

There is no doubt that the Indian Premier League is the shortest route for any young cricketer aspiring for a national call-up. Time and again we have seen cricketers shot into national reckoning after one good season for an IPL franchise. And, Deepak Chahar makes no qualms about accepting the fact.

Chahar was extremely candid during his interaction with the media ahead of the second ODI between India and West Indies. He talked about his journey in domestic cricket and how he tweaked his game according to the demands of white-ball cricket while also accepting that IPL is the shortest route to a national call-up.  

“When I changed my action to gain speed, I struggled with my state team. Now suddenly, I found that my road towards entering the Indian team to be very difficult. If I had to take the Ranji route, then I would have had to play more matches, play a whole first-class season, play Duleep Trophy. That’s a long road.

“But if you do well in IPL, then you can quickly play for India and during that phase of my career, I decided to concentrate on white-ball cricket,” Deepak Chahar told the reporters in the pre-match press conference as quoted by Times Now.

Deepak Chahar reveals how he changed his game to prolong his white-ball career

With a cloud of injury hanging around Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, courtesy his recent exploits, has become a key member of the Indian pace attack in white-ball cricket. Chahar also explained about how he identified his strengths and weaknesses and stepped aside from red-ball cricket in order to prolong his career in the shorter formats of the game.

“When I came to the Ranji Trophy, I used to bowl 125 kmph. My struggle with injuries was due to my efforts to increase my pace. Because I knew that I won’t be able to survive with that kind of pace at the international level. I had to increase it close to 140 clicks and get it to swing. A swinging delivery at 135 to 137 kmph is the most difficult delivery for any batsman. I can vouch that even 150 km on a flat track can be easier to handle.

“A red ball will even (reverse) swing if it’s shiny on one side. That’s why, at the Ranji level, a lot of bowlers can move the ball both ways. In white ball, the swing is not there because of the shine (of lacquer). It is derived through action. So I worked on that also and increased my pace. I have a good slower bouncer and I am working on my yorker. Now I am confident that even if I am hit for two sixes, I can bowl a yorker,” Deepak Chahar further added.

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