MS Dhoni has made me a powerplay bowler – Deepak Chahar

Chennai Super Kings fast bowler Deepak Chahar has lauded his skipper MS Dhoni for getting the best out of him. Chahar stated that Dhoni has made him a powerplay bowler. The swing fast bowler mostly completes his quota of four overs in the first eight overs of the game as Dhoni makes full use of Chahar’s ability to swing the new ball.

Chahar has the skills to move the ball both ways and he can consistently bowl around 140 kmph. The fast bowler revealed that Dhoni has the confidence in his abilities as he gives him the ball when only two fielders are allowed the 30-yard circle in the powerplay overs.

“It was a long-cherished dream of mine to play under Mahi bhai. I have learnt a lot under his captaincy. I have taken my game to another level under his guidance. He has always backed me. He taught me how to take responsibility. There is no one in my team (CSK) who bowls three overs in the powerplay. I do that. That’s because of Mahi bhai. Bowling the first over for a team is not an easy job. With time, I have improved and learned how to control the flow of runs, especially in T20s,” Chahar told TimesofIndia.com.

Chahar added that he has learned a lot by playing under the tutelage of MS Dhoni. The fast bowler was at his best for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2021 as he scalped eight wickets in seven matches. In fact, all of his eight wickets came via two four-wicket hauls.

“Mahi bhai has made me a powerplay bowler. He always says ‘you are my powerplay bowler’. He, most of the time, gives me first over of the match. I have been scolded by him a lot, but I know those talks and that guidance has benefitted me a lot as well and helped me grow as a bowler,” Chahar added.

“He (Dhoni) knows his players well and he uses them wisely. He knows who is good at the death, who is good in the powerplay and who is good in the middle overs,” he revealed.

Deepak Chahar is expected to be part of India’s limited-overs squad for the tour of Sri Lanka. Chahar has impressed with his ability to swing the ball and he will look to continue the good show.