The Ball To Mayank Agarwal Was A Dream Ball; It Pleased Me: Deepak Chahar

Chennai Super Kings seamer Deepak Chahar sizzled, leaving the Punjab Kings batting line-up clueless against his change of pace and lenghts. Deepak Chahar picked all the crucial wickets to set the tone for Chennai Super Kings’ six-wicket victory, helping them bounce back from the drubbing they suffered against the Delhi Capitals. The 28-year old admired MS Dhoni for showing faith in him and his plan is to bowl as many dot balls in the powerplay.

Deepak Chahar triggered Punjab Kings’ collapse when he castled Mayank Agarwal with an outswinger in the fourth ball of the innings. There was a wicket in Chahar’s second over as Ravindra Jadeja struck a direct hit to find KL Rahul short at the striker’s end. The right-arm seamer’s third over involved the dismissals of Chris Gayle and Nicholas Pooran.

After Ruturaj Gaikwad perished for 5, Moeen Ali and Faf Du Plessis wrested control by adding 66 off 46 deliveries. Moeen Ali holed out to mid-wicket when on 46 and Mohammed Shami removed Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu in successive deliveries. Sam Curran, who came ahead of MS Dhoni, finished it off with a boundary, with 26 balls to spare.

The first over catch went to Ruturaj, only Jaddu could’ve taken it: Deepak Chahar

Deepak Chahar remarked that Mayank Agarwal’s wicket pleased him as it was a dream ball – an outswinger hitting the top of off. Chahar conceded that the catch off Chris Gayle’s bat, missed by Ruturaj Gaikwad, initially could’ve been taken only by Ravindra Jadeja and revealed that he is a must on the field. The 27-year old commended MS Dhoni for trusting him with bowling the first over. The Uttar Pradesh-born cricketer highlighted that one might not get wickets in the powerplay; hence, he focuses on bowling as many dots.

“I think the first wicket [of Agarwal] pleased me. Dream ball: pitches on middle and hitting off. It was a delight for the coach. I think it’s a ball you dream about – the outswinger hitting the top of off. The first over catch went to Ruturaj, only Jaddu could’ve taken it. He has taken so many catches off my bowling – I just want Jaddu in the field [laughs]. I think I got the responsibility to bowl the first over and set the tone. It’s a big responsibility for me in the last four years and Mahi bhai has shown faith in me. As a bowler, this is my plan always. You may not take wickets in T20s, so my plan is to bowl dots in powerplays,” Chahar told in the post-match presentation.

Also Read: MS Dhoni Lauds Wankhede Pitch After CSK’s Six-Wicket Win Over PBKS