Chennai Super Kings (CSK) swing bowler, Deepak Chahar, is excited to fly across to the UAE and return to on-field action after a long break for the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Chahar, whose time away from cricket due to a back stress fracture suffered during the ODI series against West Indies in December 2019 had been extended by the COVID-19 lockdown, is training hard and hoping to be absolutely ready for the IPL 2020.
"For me, (training) has been easy as I have my own academy ground. So, as the lockdown was gradually lifted in Agra, I could return to training soon and it’s been a few months since I have been practising regularly," Chahar told Sportstar.
"Now things have opened up here and I have also played a few practice matches in my academy. I have been training well and have slowly got back match practice."
The practice matches Chahar talked about are friendly encounters, but they feature some of the Ranji Trophy players. And hence, the level of competition has been quite high.
"The games were played between my academy and a team comprising players from the zone. My academy team is quite strong. You need some match practice before playing a game, and I have slowly done that. There is a difference between just training and playing with others," said the 28-year-old, who will be soon flying across to the Middle East with his CSK teammates.
"I have played there, so I know that the wickets are going to be very flat," he added, having made his ODI debut in UAE in 2018. "In the last season of the IPL (in 2019), we played our games in Chennai and the conditions in UAE are similar to that. It’s a bit humid, flat wickets, so I think that will help. There will be challenges, but you need to find a way to come back."
Chahar reflected upon his injury late last year, saying the excessive workload had started to take its toll and the pandemic perhaps gave him the kind of break he needed.
"I needed a break because I was continuously playing all the formats," he said. "So, I needed some time to train properly and this break gave me that opportunity.
"I hope I don’t get injured soon and can bowl at a good pace for a longer period. I am now fitter and am bowling better."
“If I am fit and can play all the matches, I can get more than 20 wickets," Chahar concluded.
The IPL 2020 begins on September 19.
