Chennai Super Kings (CSK) played the perfect game against Gujarat Titans (GT) to register a 63-run win. Once again, Deepak Chahar was exceptional with the new ball getting rid of both openers.
After the comprehensive win, legendary Indian cricket-turned-commentator Sunil Gavaskar asked Chahar whether he got confused in the field after Ruturaj Gaikwad became the captain of CSK.
“I got to look at Mahi (MSD) bhai and at Ruturaj - both of them these days (for instructions). Ruturaj is leading well,” Chahar replied.
Chahar got the first wicket of the innings in the third over of the innings. GT skipper Shubman Gill was deceived by the thigh-high slower ball. Gill reviewed the decision but it did not help him. He departed after scoring eight runs from five balls.
In his third over in the powerplay overs, he dismissed Wriddhiman Saha. First, he bowled a fiery bouncer. Saha swivelled to pull but it hit his helmet. On the next ball, Saha pulled the length ball and got caught at deep square leg by Tushar Deshpande.
New bouncer rule helping bowlers
“Since the time I have been playing, I have been bowling 3 overs in the powerplay, used to it, just trying to bowl as well as possible with the new rules around. Earlier, if you bowled a bouncer in the first 2-3 balls, batters were always ready for a full length ball, but this new rule with two bouncers allowed in an over, it helps all the pacers,” the pacer said.
The Chennai pitch had more bounce rather than providing much assistance to the spinners.
“There's bounce always, but there's not much dew around at the moment. The ball grips and bounces in such conditions,” he added.
Chahar conceded 28 runs from his full quota of four overs. In the IPL 2024 opener, he was expensive but got the wicket of Glenn Maxwell in the sixth over.
It will be interesting to see how he fares against Delhi Capitals (DC) when CSK play their first away game of the season on March 31 at Vizag.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
