Indian fast bowler Deepak Chahar made a memorable comeback in international cricket after 6 months.
Playing an international match for the first time since February 2022, he bowled brilliantly, conceding just 10 runs in his first three overs against Zimbabwe in the first ODI on August 18. He also dismissed Zimbabwe's top three batters back to the pavilion for just 31 runs on the board.
The Indian pacer made dismissed Innocent Kaia (4), Tadiwanashe Marumani (8), and Wesley Madhevere (5) while conceding only 27 runs in his seven overs.
Apart from Chahar, Prasidh Krishna and Akshar Patel also took three wickets each and helped Team India to bundle out Zimbabwe for 189 – the target they chased down without losing a single wicket inside the 31st over to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series on Thursday.
Deepak Chahar told reporters after the match about his comeback show: “I think I have picked up from where I had left and today also barring the first two overs, I bowled well. I bowled seven overs at one go which is an indicator that my fitness levels are okay.”
He continued, “Difficulty was there. Because you are trying to regain your place in the side and in the interim, people who played have also performed and consolidated their places. So in order to regain your spot, you have to put up a good performance. Obviously, the pressure was there and I wanted to perform at the first opportunity because that's all that a player can control.”
On being asked if he feels T20 World Cup 2022 doors would open up for him, the pacer said: “I can't say if I will be selected or not as that's not in my hands but skill wise I have worked very hard.”
Speaking about his bowling plans, the pacer said: “My plan remains simple, when the ball is swinging try to bowl fuller length and take wickets. If the ball isn't swinging, then there is a plan 'B' or 'C'. Today, it was swinging till the seventh over when I was bowling. So it was simple -- bowl a fuller length and mix the swing and confuse the batter.”
On the Harare pitch for the first ODI, Chahar noted: “There isn't any turn-on offer or anything for fast bowlers in particular. The only help you get is in that morning session and if you play that session well, then obviously the game goes well. But if you lose 4-5 early wickets, then no team can win a match from there. I felt Zimbabwe after losing five wickets for 50 odd (66), scoring 190 was a good effort.”
The Indian pacer revealed that once his rehab at the NCA was nearing completion, he knew that he would make comeback in Zimbabwe. He signed off by saying, “I knew I would make my comeback in this series, which is an ODI series, so I started loading my body accordingly. The day I started bowling, I bowled six overs and then when I played 2-3 practice games, I bowled a full quota of 10 overs.”
(With PTI Inputs)
