IPL 2019: Sachin Tendulkar, Mahela Jayawardene praise young spinner Rahul Chahar

Mumbai Indians’ (MI) young leg-spinner Rahul Chahar did a wonderful job for his team in a tense final against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 on Sunday. The 19-year-old bowler delivered 13 dot balls in his four overs to end up with 1 for 14 that put brakes on the CSK’s chase of a modest target of 150. The CSK had a good start but eventually fell short of the MI’s total by one run. It was the second consecutive final that the MI won by 1 run.

MI icon Sachin Tendulkar heaped praises over Rahul Chahar and called him a “fabulous” talent. MI chief coach Mahela Jayawardene, too, lauded the bowler who has played only 12 first-class games so far. In this IPL which was only his second one after 2017, Rahul took 13 wickets in as many games at an economy rate of 6.55 and average of below 24. In the final, Chahar caught Suresh Raina plumb in from the wicket and it pegged back the CSK chase.

Rahul Chahar stands out

“Rahul Chahar stands out. I shared my opinion (with Mahela) before he played his first game and I thought he was fabulous. Sixth to the 15th over, he bowled with a slip there and that was some real quality bowling in a crucial match,” Tendulkar said after the final on Sunday.

Speaking about Rahul who was also with the MI in 2018, Jayawardene said: “Rahul Chahar was brilliant and created the pressure throughout for us.”

Rahul’s brother Deepak, who bowls fast and played for the CSK, also had a productive IPL this year and picked 22 wickets in 17 matches to finish third in the list after teammate Imran Tahir (26 wickets) and Kagiso Rabada (25). Deepak, who will be flying to England to help the Indian batsmen prepare for the upcoming ICC World Cup starting later this month, bowled at an average of less than 22.

Coming back to Sunday’s final, the MI has now won the title four times, more than anybody else, with Rohit Sharma leading them on all occasions.

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