IND vs ZIM: Deepak Chahar picks up where he left off six months ago

While he is known as a T20 specialist, Chahar said once his rehab at the NCA was nearing completion, he knew that ODIs in Zimbabwe would be his comeback vehicle and he prepared his body accordingly.

Published : Aug 18, 2022 21:44 IST , Harare

Deepak Chahar (L) appeals for the wicket of Zimbabwe’s Innocent Kaia (R)  during the first one-day international (ODI) match between Zimbabwe and India.
Deepak Chahar (L) appeals for the wicket of Zimbabwe’s Innocent Kaia (R) during the first one-day international (ODI) match between Zimbabwe and India. | Photo Credit: AFP
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Deepak Chahar (L) appeals for the wicket of Zimbabwe’s Innocent Kaia (R) during the first one-day international (ODI) match between Zimbabwe and India. | Photo Credit: AFP

A six-month injury lay-off can take its toll. But Deepak Chahar feels he picked up from where he had left when he sustained a career-threatening hamstring injury.

Chahar, adjudged Player of The Match award for figures of 3/27 against Zimbabwe, feels he had done a lot of work skill-wise to match that level of performance.

Asked if he feels his T20 World Cup doors could open up, Chahar said: “I can’t say if I will be selected or not - that is not in my hands. But skill-wise, I have worked very hard.

“Barring first two overs today, I bowled well. I bowled seven overs at one go. It is an indicator that my fitness levels are okay,” Chahar said after India's win.

Chahar, who swung the new ball both ways, revealed that the plan was to bowl fuller-length deliveries.

“My plan remains simple. When the ball is swinging, I try to bowl fuller length and take wickets. If the ball isn’t swinging, there is a plan ‘B’ or ‘C’. Today, it was swinging till the seventh over that I was bowling. So it was simple -- bowl a fuller length, mix the swing and confuse the batter,” he said.

“There is neither any turn on offer nor anything for fast bowlers. The only help you get is in that morning session. And if you play that session well, then the game goes well.

“But if you lose 4-5 early wickets, no team can win a match from there. I felt Zimbabwe, after losing five wickets for 50 odd (66), scoring 190 was a good effort.”

While he is known as a T20 specialist, Chahar said once his rehab at the NCA was nearing completion, he was eyeing the ODIs in Zimbabwe to make a comeback. He prepared his body to suit the rigours of 50-over format. “I knew I would make my comeback in this series, which is an ODI series, so I started loading my body accordingly. The day I started bowling, I bowled six overs and then when I played 2-3 practice games, I bowled full quota of 10 overs,” Chahar said.

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