Ever since his comeback to the Indian team last year, the flamboyant all-rounder, Hardik Pandya has emerged as dominating all-rounder. Add to that his captaincy and Hardik makes for the perfect embodiment of a complete cricketer. Any cricketer who can contribute as much as Hardik can – becomes a part of the playing XI. The all-rounder, Deepak Chahar is planning his comeback into Team India after regaining fitness, is targeting the ODI World Cup 2023, and knows what it takes to seal at place in India’s playing XI.
During a recent chat with Sports Tak, Deepak Chahar said, “When I wasn’t playing for India, even then I used to follow this process and it hasn’t changed even now. When I was struggling in my state team and used to say to my teammates that one day I’ll play for India, they would laugh at me. I believed back then as well that if I can bowl around 140 kph, swing the ball both ways, I will not have any trouble getting batters out.”
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He further added, “And if I can bat a bit, he will always have a place in the Indian team – now and even 10-15 years later. I want to reach that level and I know once I’m there, the performance will follow and I will get selected automatically too. I want that today as well, to bowl in 140s, swing both way and contribute with bat.”
A stress fracture in the back barred Deepak Chahar to feature in last year’s World Cup in Australia, and when he seemed to have recovered, he sustained a Grade 3 tear in his quad during the second ODI against Bangladesh in December. His journey back into the Indian squad will go through a stern challenge during the IPL 2023, where not only his skills, but his fitness will go through a litmus test.
As Chahar rightly pointed out, he can swing the ball at a decent pace. In July of 2021, Deepak Chahar played a match-winning knock guiding India to a narrow win and nearly pulled it off again a few months later in South Africa. Hence, highlighting how rare an asset Hardik Pandya is, Chahar is confident that provided he has the capability to deliver in a crunch situation.
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As per the quotes in Hindustan Times, Deepak Chahar said, Batting is a plus for me since I’ve been doing it since I was a child. Last year I got opportunities so I was able to score runs. If I get a chance to make matches and win matches, I will try my best. Look at Hardik Pandya – he does all three things; bowl quick, swing, and bat; no one can take his place in the Indian team 1 or 2 years from now. So it’s not just me; if any player can do that, he will warrant a place in the team.”
