"MS Dhoni, Stephen Fleming will have problems..." - Deepak Chahar on CSK's headache ahead of IPL 2024

Indian pacer Deepak Chahar, who is known to be one of the finest bowlers, has been in and out of the team due to his injuries. Chahar has always been dealing with a hamstring strain and due to the same reason has missed a lot of important events. Chahar has not played competitive cricket since December 2023 and also missed the South African tour and the T20I series against Afghanistan.

Chennai Super Kings is an eminent part of Deepak Chahar’s life. CSK has played the most important role in the grooming of Chahar as a player and especially as a new ball bowler. MS Dhoni has used him like an ace pacer and he has also stood up to the expectations of MSD and also has provided the team with early wickets whenever it was needed.

Apart from being a brilliant swing bowl, Deepak Chahar can also hit a long ball by coming at number nine. One match which comes to the brain was the ODI match against Sri Lanka when Chahar smashed a brilliant half-century to take India over the line.

The inclusion of Shardul Thakur will also strengthen CSK’s lower order as they will have batting talent until number nine. Speaking up on his batting skills during a public interaction in Chennai, Deepak Chahar stated that the only time MS Dhoni gave him batting above him was in 2018. Chahar stated that he scored some runs and the team was able to win the match. Chahar stated that it has been good for the team that till now they have not needed his batting.

Deepak Chahar on his batting skills

Deepak Chahar said (as quoted by ESPNCricinfo), “That was the only game where Mahi bhai [Dhoni] gave me batting before him and I scored some runs in that game. And we won that game. It has been good for the team because we haven’t needed my batting. Mahi bhai himself bats at No. 8 and I bat at No. 9 and you know that gives a lot of balance to the team and see the batters before us having this [depth].”

Chennai Super Kings have included Kiwi players such as Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra, who are particularly decent players against spin, in the squad ahead of IPL 2024. Also, the return of Shardul Thakur will add an extra headache for MS Dhoni and Stephen Fleming to set up the team’s balance.

Reflecting on the same, Deepak Chahar stated that we had a brilliant auction and now MS Dhoni and Stephen Fleming will have problems in setting up the team’s balance. Chahar stated that the team will have plenty of combinations to play with and it will be MS Dhoni and Stephen Fleming to decide the team’s lineup.

He said, “We had a very good auction and I also said recently that we have such a good balance that Mahi bhai and Fleming will have problems to make the combinations. We will have plenty of combinations to play with, so they’re the ones who are going to decide. It’s challenging for them to pick the combination for the 22nd [March].”

Deepak Chahar and MS Dhoni have been associated with each other since 2016 when he was picked for the Rising Pune Supergiants.